More than a thousand Starbucks workers have commenced a strike in more than 40 cities across the US on Thursday amid stagnant negotiations with the world’s largest coffee chain over a first union contract.
On the company’s annual “red cup day”, hailing the start of the lucrative holiday season, Starbucks Workers United is launching an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike, with rallies planned in locations including New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; and Anaheim, California.
About 65 stores are initially affected. Organizers plan to expand the strike to more locations should executives hold firm – and want customers to steer clear of the chain as part of a campaign dubbed “no contract, no coffee”.
Starbucks said it was “disappointed” that Workers United had voted to strike, rather than continue bargaining, but insisted the “vast majority” of stores would be unaffected by the action. The company stands accused of “stonewalling” at the table by union officials.
Since the first Starbucks store voted to unionize in 2021, more than 650 have followed, in the face of vehement opposition from the chain’s management. Contract negotiations broke down earlier this year, following the union’s rejection of Starbucks’ economic offer.
Starbucks Workers United announced last week that workers had voted to authorize an open-ended ULP strike with 92% voting in favor. The union had spent months demanding that managers consider new proposals to improve staffing and pay, and resolve hundreds of unfair labor practice charges filed by the union against Starbucks throughout its organizing campaign.
“We have not been given meaningful proposals to finalize this contract since the announcement of the strike authorization vote,” Jasmine Leli, a Starbucks barista for three years and strike captain from Buffalo, New York, told the Guardian. “The baristas are prepared to do whatever it takes to get this finalized contract.”
Striking baristas are asking that customers “do not buy at Starbucks while workers are on strike”, Leli added, to help “win the fair contract that we have spent many, many months negotiating with Starbucks”.
“We’ve waited long enough,” said Leli. “We are so close to finishing this contract, and we need them to just finish it.”
The beginning of the strike coincides with Starbucks’ “red cup day”, a promotion in which customers receive a reusable red holiday cup with the purchase of a holiday drink. It is typically one of the company’s biggest sales days of the year.
The chain is scrambling to turn around its US business and win back customers, after several years of sluggish sales. In September it announced plans to shut more than 100 cafes across North America and lay off about 900 corporate staff.
“Union baristas mean business and are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract and end Starbucks’ unfair labor practices,” said Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks Workers United spokesperson and veteran barista of 15 years. “We want Starbucks to succeed, but turning the company around and bringing customers back begins with listening to and supporting the baristas who are responsible for the Starbucks experience.
“If Starbucks keeps stonewalling, they should expect to see their business grind to a halt. The ball is in Starbucks’ court.”
A spokesperson for Starbucks, Jaci Anderson, said: “We are disappointed that Workers United, who only represents around 4% of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table. When they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk.”
Any contract “needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks already offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners”, added Anderson. “The facts show people like working at Starbucks. Partner engagement is up, turnover is nearly half the industry average, and we get more than 1m million job applications a year.
“Our customers can be assured that our partners will be ready to serve them at the vast majority of our more than 10,000 company operated coffeehouses and nearly 7,000 licensed locations throughout the holiday season, regardless of the union’s plans.”
