Barista: Starbucks’s “kinder, gentler capitalism” still prioritizes profits

Jonathan

I am a barista at a Starbucks just north of Seattle, Washington. 

I am thankful that I can keep working, and have not been laid off like so many workers have; but I know that I put myself and my family in danger every day I go into work. 

I come into close contact with hundreds of strangers every day at Starbucks. I don't know if our customers are sick, and they might not even know themselves. One of these customers could easily spread COVID-19 to me or my coworkers, and we could in turn expose hundreds or thousands of other people to the coronavirus before we even have symptoms. 

This is a very dangerous situation, especially because this area is at the epicenter of an outbreak with thousands of confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths. 

I think it’s important that people know that even Starbucks’s “kinder, gentler capitalism” prioritizes profits over people’s health and safety.

If it is so essential that Starbucks keep its stores open in order to generate profits for investors, then my fellow baristas and I should get hazard pay.