On a chilly Monday morning in Park Slope, Brooklyn, the air around a Starbucks storefront was charged with more than just the aroma of coffee. Instead, it buzzed with chants, picket signs, and the palpable energy of a labor movement that has captured the city's—and the nation's—attention. At the heart of the crowd were two figures whose presence signaled a turning point: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Their mission? To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with striking Starbucks workers, lending political clout and a sense of solidarity to a fight that has been brewing for weeks.
The backdrop for this high-profile show of support was a historic $38.9 million settlement between Starbucks and New York City, announced on December 1, 2025. According to PIX11 and Business Insider, the agreement followed a multi-year investigation by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, which uncovered more than 500,000 violations across 300 Starbucks locations. The violations ranged from arbitrary cuts to employee hours and unpredictable scheduling to keeping baristas involuntarily part-time, all in direct contravention of the city's Fair Workweek Law. As a result, more than 15,000 Starbucks baristas in New York City are poised to receive restitution checks as soon as winter 2025-2026, with $35 million earmarked for worker compensation and $3.4 million in civil penalties.
The settlement, as reported by PIX11, was hailed as a "major victory" by union leaders and workers alike. Kai Fritz, a New York City Starbucks employee and Workers United union boss, captured the mood in a press release: "It shows the power baristas have when we stand together and demand change. We are continuing to fight back against Starbucks' greed and will not stop until we have a fair contract that ensures the support and protections we need to thrive."
For the workers, the struggle had been intensifying since early November, when baristas in several cities—including New York—walked off their jobs. The strike was timed to coincide with Red Cup Day, one of Starbucks' busiest annual events, when the company gives away reusable cups to customers. The union's strategy was clear: maximize visibility and pressure by disrupting a key sales day. Since then, the strike has spread to dozens of stores nationwide, with union leaders warning that the work stoppage could expand to more than 500 locations if negotiations continue to stall.
At the center of worker grievances are demands for higher pay, stable schedules, and respect on the job. Starbucks baristas have been protesting what they describe as "$18 an hour wages, erratic work hours, and unpredictable scheduling," according to WABC. One worker summed up the sentiment: "Right now we want to fight for fair, consistency. Yeah, obviously a living, working schedule and wage." The company, which operates roughly 10,000 stores nationwide, maintains that only several dozen have been impacted by the strike and that the low hourly wages are offset by a generous benefits package, bringing total compensation to about $30 an hour.
But for many on the picket lines, the company's claims ring hollow. Mayor-elect Mamdani, who has made labor rights a centerpiece of his platform, didn't mince words. In a message shared on social media, he contrasted the record compensation of Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol—who took home $95 million in 2024—with the "bare minimum" that workers are demanding. "Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol made $95 million last year. His workers are striking for the bare minimum. Glad to be on the right side of the picket line with them," Mamdani wrote, as reported by Business Insider.
Senator Sanders, a longtime champion of organized labor, echoed this sentiment. Marching alongside Mamdani and the workers, Sanders told reporters, "You're seeing more and more candidates standing up, exactly the same way Zohran did. And they are standing up and saying that we need an economy that works for all." Sanders' presence on the picket line was more than symbolic; it was a clear signal that the labor movement at Starbucks is being watched—and supported—at the highest levels of government.
The settlement with New York City, while a significant victory for workers, does not mark the end of the struggle. Starbucks has agreed to "bigger rosters, better schedules, and upgrades to our scheduling tools," according to a statement released on December 1. Yet, the company maintains that the strikes have caused no "meaningful disruption" at most locations and points to its investments in improving scheduling and compensation. "When the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, we're ready to talk. The facts are clear: Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging $30 per hour for hourly partners," the company stated, as reported by PIX11.
Still, workers and their advocates remain skeptical. The years-long investigation and subsequent settlement, they argue, validate their claims of systemic mistreatment. The union's willingness to escalate the strike to hundreds more stores if negotiations stall underscores the depth of frustration among baristas. As one union leader put it, "We are continuing to fight back against Starbucks' greed and will not stop until we have a fair contract that ensures the support and protections we need to thrive."
Mamdani, for his part, has pledged to keep up the pressure. He vowed to "march on picket lines throughout the city" during his upcoming mayoral term, aiming to set a tone for his administration and signal ongoing support for labor rights. "These are not demands of greed. These are demands for decency. These are workers who are simply being asked to be treated with the respect that they deserve," Mamdani said, as quoted by WABC.
The Starbucks saga in New York is part of a broader wave of labor activism sweeping the country, with workers in various industries demanding better pay, fairer schedules, and a seat at the table. The settlement, the strikes, and the high-profile backing from political leaders have thrust the issue of workers' rights into the spotlight, challenging companies to rethink how they treat their employees and how they respond to collective action.
As holiday shoppers line up for their favorite lattes and cappuccinos, the real drama is unfolding not behind the counter, but on the sidewalks outside. The story of Starbucks workers in New York—bolstered by a historic settlement and the backing of prominent political figures—serves as a reminder that the fight for fairness and dignity at work is far from over. The coming months will reveal whether the momentum built on the picket lines translates into lasting change for baristas in New York City and beyond.
