Workers believe the new policy diverts attention from the real issues the international coffee conglomerate needs to address, said Mikael Makoyii Mendez, a supervisor at the picketing Starbucks store.

Starbucks Workers United argued that the new policy is worsening an already prevalent understaffing crisis.

Starbucks argues that outrage over a simplified dress code is coming from staff at less than 1 percent of all stores and is the cause of delayed negotiations.