Small point, but aren't aprons handed out and treated like uniforms in other companies? Employees take them home and launder them themselves? In any job I've had where I had to wear a specific company shirt, they were given to me and up to me to maintain.

In my works this is usually as you describe. But at the same time it is also one of the top issues workers complain about and ripe for change.

If your boss demands you wear specific clothes, and demands you should keep those clothes clean in your own time, they are effectively making you do more work after hours using tools and utilities that you also have to pay for. It is perfectly reasonable for a union to try to negotiate either: a) laundry pay and utility compensation, or b) for the company to do this work instead. In this case the union is demanding the latter.

I think it’s a reasonable request for workers to come to work in clean clothes. Especially with regards to food service. Even if you have a company supplied apron fresh every day, the moldy hoodie (extreme example) is still a nonstarter. Where I would absolutely support the company being on the line for laundry service is if they have some cleanliness requirement that goes above and beyond what is reasonable. If you’re expecting your auto mechanics or industrial maintenance workers to start their day in spotless attire, that’s far more onerous due to the nature of their jobs and I would be much more supportive of company provided laundry services in those cases. I think there could be an argument made for food service staff when it comes to hygiene regulations as well so I’m certainly not against it the proposed Starbucks changes. I just don’t know if or what regulations would come into play here.

Another variable for me would be how many company provided outfits there are. If they just give them one apron and expect it to be washed daily, that would fall under an onerous requirement in my opinion and would justify a laundry service.

When comparing it to the company provided footwear, their example was a woman who went through three sets of shoes and being told three different times the shoes weren’t suitable for arbitrary reasons. If they are going to be that picky, they should absolutely foot the bill to ensure the uniform fits their standards.

You need a clean apron for each shift and I believe they only hand out one or two at the time of hiring from what I recall chatting with a barista.

Full time is 40 hours. Many, many businesses will hire part time then work employees up to the legal limit just to avoid paying benefits.