REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Starbucks Corp FollowNov 13 (Reuters) - The Workers United union said on Monday that thousands of employees at hundreds of Starbucks (SBUX.O) stores will walk out on the coffee chain's key Red Cup day promotional event this week, citing staffing and scheduling issues. Starbucks hands out free reusable holiday-themed cups with coffee purchases on the popular promotional event Red Cup day, which falls on Thursday this week, in the midst of the key holiday season. The Workers United in a statement said that Red Cup day is "one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days for the baristas" at Starbucks, and called on baristas and supervisors at all Starbucks stores to walk out on Nov. 16. The union had called for protests at more than 100 Starbucks stores at Red Cup day last year. Workers United represents more than 360 unionized stores and more than 9,000 Starbucks employees, according to the union's website.

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Persons: Carlo Allegri, . Workers United hasn't, they've, Juveria Tabassum, Rashmi Organizations: Empire, REUTERS, Companies Starbucks Corp, The Workers United, Starbucks, The Workers, Red, Workers, . Workers United, Reuters, Workers United, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S