Over 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers walked off the job at 65 stores nationwide on Thursday, staging a strike timed to disrupt the company’s busy “Red Cup Day.”
The walkout highlights deep frustration over three years of stalled contract talks and a lack of progress on improving workplace conditions.
Why Workers Are Striking
Baristas, organized by Starbucks Workers United, say the core issues are:
- Stalled Negotiations: Contract talks have frozen since April, despite a pledge to finalize a deal by the end of 2024.
- Workplace Conditions: Workers are demanding better hours, improved staffing, and an end to routine long customer wait times.
- Pay: They are seeking higher pay, citing the millions earned by executives and the company’s high spending on corporate events.
- Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs): The union wants Starbucks to address hundreds of ULPs, including alleged retaliatory firings.
The Two Sides Respond
| Starbucks Workers United (Union) | Starbucks (Company) |
| The strike, affecting 65 stores in at least 45 cities (including New York, Seattle, and Dallas), forced some stores to close. | Downplayed the disruption. Said most of its 10,000+ stores remained open and the company was on track to meet or exceed sales forecasts. |
| The strike is open-ended, with more stores ready to join if negotiations don’t resume. | Stated the day was “off to an incredible start,” claiming strong sales despite the action. |
The union warns that the strike will continue unless Starbucks returns to the bargaining table.
