In summer 2022, Philadelphia’s City Council passed a resolution in support of the efforts of organizing baristas forming a union at Starbucks, and called on the company to end its union-busting practices. Additionally, the city’s Department of Labor has been proactively investigating Starbucks for being a repeat offender of local fair work week scheduling ordinances. 

Despite these realities, our elected leadership continues to contract with Starbucks to serve coffee at Dilworth Park, located at the foot of City Hall. We are calling on City Council to live up to its stated values and principles by removing Starbucks from Dilworth Park, and instead offering any number of local union coffee from our city. 

MORE CONTEXT:

City Hall is the home to Dilworth Park, an incredibly special public space for Philadelphia which serves as the only park in the entire city of Philadelphia that's connected by both the Broad Street Line Subway and Market-Frankford Line El. Dilworth Park connects tens of thousands of Philadelphians and dozens of Philly neighborhoods every day.

The Center City District has been tasked by City Council with the running and operations of Dilworth Park. Each position on the Center City District is appointed by City Hall and monitored by a city oversight committee. In 2018-19, the Center City District made the poor choice to contract with today’s worst violator of labor law, Starbucks, rather than support local Philadelphia businesses with the same contract. 

Philadelphians have been vocal in their displeasure with Starbucks being served at Dilworth Park. City Council has additionally pledged support for Starbucks workers fighting for a union. Additionally, Starbucks has been cited as a repeat offender of Philadelphia’s own fair work week ordinances. Yet, the city continues to give Starbucks business. 

City Council can do better, and Philadelphia deserves better. Now is the time, stop doing business with Starbucks at Dilworth Park and serve local Philadelphia coffee instead!