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Starbucks baristas push for stores to close due to Chinese virus

Coffee may feel essential, but in the face of coronavirus it’s putting thousands of Starbucks workers at risk, according to a new petition. Starbucks baristas, managers and other store employees are pushing the java giant to close its stores to protect them from the viral COVID-19 outbreak that’s expected to overwhelm hospitals in infected areas, …

Coffee may feel essential, but in the face of coronavirus it’s putting thousands of Starbucks workers at risk, according to a new petition.

Starbucks baristas, managers and other store employees are pushing the java giant to close its stores to protect them from the viral COVID-19 outbreak that’s expected to overwhelm hospitals in infected areas, including Starbuck’s hometown of Seattle.

The $72 billion company has ramped up store cleanings and adopted “to-go” service to limit staffers from getting exposed. But the petition, which has garnered 25,000 signatures since Sunday, claims the protections are not enough.

“Most Starbucks locations are strategically placed near hospitals and schools/universities,” the Coworker.org petition states. “Although most schools have closed, most hospitals have not, and will not close. While Starbucks has put new policies into play, that doesn’t mitigate the entire risk of catching the virus.”

“Starbucks headquarters workers in Seattle are also working at home since Monday,” one employee griped, according to Vice, which first reported on the petition. “Pretty much, the company is exposing their workers to unsafe conditions while everyone above a certain pay grade is protected.”

“If Apple can shut down for two weeks, so can Starbucks,” one Starbucks employee, Travis, wrote on the petition. “Apple sells electronics. We sell things that you eat. That go into your body. Make the responsible choice and shut the doors, Starbucks.”

Starbucks did not immediately return a request for comment on the petition, which started circulating Sunday.

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