Furry Becomes Face Of Starbucks Workers' Unionization Effort Online

A furry has become the face of Starbucks workers' unionization efforts online after pictures and video of Michael Vestigo as their fursona "Apollo the Arctic Wolf" at a recent Starbucks union rally began circulating online.

I cannot wait to see this image in history textbooks pic.twitter.com/sKEfKCulgc

— molly ✨ (@DoSomeMolly) May 11, 2022

In late April, Vestigo, a former Starbucks employee for nearly a year and a half, appeared at a unionization rally in Seattle and gave a speech airing their story and grievances with Starbucks to the attendees. They claim they were fired on April 1st of this year for being "violent and threatening." In their fursuit, they implored their fellow rallygoers, "Does this look violent and threatening to you?"

So while I was in #Seattle, I took part in a union campaign aiming to #unionizestarbucks. This was such a fantastic experience, and I am overjoyed and ever-thankful to @cmkshama for this experience. I will forever stand in #solidarity with the working class. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/i1dXrqlvXw

— Apollo Ilios (@Apollo_Ilios) April 25, 2022

Speaking to Vice, Vestigo insisted they are neither violent nor threatening, and believes they were fired because the week prior, they and their coworkers at a Kansas Starbucks staged a walkout to protest unsafe working conditions and the resistance to their unionization efforts by management.

A week after Vestigo was fired, their Starbucks won its unionization effort, becoming the first Starbucks in Kansas City to be unionized.

Vestigo checked with the Seattle rally's organizers before delivering a speech in their fursuit, and they gave their full support. Vestigo said the fursuit has given them the confidence to engage in public speaking and aid in causes for workers' rights.

"To be there, fully expressing myself and speaking up about something that I was just so passionate about, and seeing that garner any amount of attention, was an awesome feeling. It gave me more confidence than I've ever had in my entire life."

Online, social media users have reacted with a mix of solidarity, amusement and criticism of Vestigo's growing fame. Many think it's incredible to see a furry at the front of a picket line, while others seem to think it's embarrassing.

100 years apart, what happened guys? pic.twitter.com/vytq6aZHa1

— American Zapatista (@OrgullosoZ) May 12, 2022

who cares pick up a foot ball https://t.co/nOuDakd2YE

— butch lesbian fuck boy 🐸 (@BORDIGABAGOOL) May 12, 2022

furries are the backbone of our society https://t.co/MnwJ42Wo0c

— emily lipstein (@emily_lip) May 11, 2022

everyone hating on the starbucks furry just wants the left to be a cool subculture where only the cool kids get in and not a movement for working class power. juvenile

— shrivel (@shrivelle) May 12, 2022

HOW AM I JUST NOW LEARNING ABOUT @Apollo_Ilios ?!? ✨✨✨ Union Organizer of a Starbucks is a furry, his fursuit empowers him to stand up against the treatment he revived at work, becomes the FIRST Starbucks to be unionized?! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2TugY9DlaM

— 🌿Delta Doggo🌿 (@skyezoid) May 11, 2022

Vestigo hopes to get their job back at Starbucks and has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. Perhaps it'd be wise to hire them back, considering the popularity of Starbucks/furry memes in recent months.