Why these people were protesting outside Starbucks in Richmond

The demonstration at the store along the 2300 block of West Broad Street was part of a nationwide movement across 40-plus cities in the wake of the company's announcement of a $1 billion restructuring plan in late September that led to hundreds of store closures and employee layoffs.

Baristas and their supporters rallied to demand better contracts that would provide improved staffing, more work hours, better pay and enhanced workplace protections.

Demonstrators across the country took action against what they describe as Starbucks' efforts to undermine unionization.

Barista Lilith Vought said she and her coworkers were on strike to "impress our labor power against Starbucks in our fight for a fair contract and to protest their unfair labor practices."

Vought, who has worked for the cha