A strike was initiated by unionized baristas from 65 Starbucks branches across the United States on Thursday to reinforce their efforts in reaching a collective bargaining deal focusing on wage and staffing issues.
Since negotiations collapsed in December 2024, there have been no active discussions between the union and the company. Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) disclosed on their website that Starbucks put forward a new economic package in April, which was rejected by union members.
Responding to the vote outcome, Starbucks released a statement on April 25, mentioning that despite numerous hours of negotiations and numerous proposals exchanged, Workers United opted to present an incomplete framework for single-store contracts to their representatives, hindering collective progress.
According to the union, over 1,000 Starbucks employees from 40 cities in the U.S. are participating in the strike. Workers chose to strike on Starbucks’s Red Cup Day on Nov. 13, an event that traditionally marks the start of the coffee chain’s busy holiday season.
The strike follows six months of Starbucks neglecting to propose solutions to address workers’ requests for improved staffing levels, higher wages, and resolutions for unfair labor practice allegations, as stated by SBWU on their website. Despite a request for comment on the strike action from CBC News, the SBWU did not provide a response in time for publication.
In a statement to CBC News, Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson mentioned that “less than 1 percent” of their coffeehouses were affected by any disruptions due to the strike.
Demands and Responses
The SBWU highlighted unaddressed demands from Starbucks, including concerns related to understaffing and wage increments.
The union expressed on their website, “We have made significant progress as a union… However, Starbucks continues to block progress in contract negotiations. It is time to reach a resolution for everyone’s benefit.”
In response, Starbucks stated, “We are disappointed that Workers United, representing less than four percent of our partners, has opted for a strike instead of returning to the negotiation table.”
SBWU argued that returning to negotiations would be futile if Starbucks does not present proposals addressing the union’s demands.
Since its inception with the first unionized Starbucks outlet in Buffalo, New York, in 2021, the SBWU has expanded to represent thousands of baristas. Currently, around 550 Starbucks branches out of approximately 17,000 in the U.S. are unionized with the SBWU.
McGill University sociology professor Barry Eidlin suggested that the union’s campaign growth can be attributed to its more grassroots approach compared to recent union strategies.
Although the outcome regarding key demands for wage hikes and improved staffing remains uncertain, Eidlin noted the union’s significant achievements through its grassroots organizational tactics in recent years.
In September, numerous Starbucks outlets across North America were closed, and 900 non-retail employees were laid off.
CEO Brian Niccol addressed the closures in a September letter, explaining that decisions to close locations are made based on various factors