Starbucks workers across the nation are set to escalate their strike on Christmas Eve, with the labor action expected to affect more than 300 locations as employees demand higher wages and improved working conditions.
Initially starting on Friday, the strike has seen participation from workers at prominent stores in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. The union representing the baristas, Starbucks Workers United, announced on Monday via social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) their plans to extend the walkouts to other cities, including Atlanta and Buffalo. This means customers will face interruptions at some of the most popular Starbucks locations during the busy holiday season.
The union has expressed grievances over what they describe as inadequate wage offers and sluggish progress on resolving unfair labor practice cases. Specifically, Starbucks Workers United has criticized the company for proposing no new wage increases for unionized baristas and for backtracking on previously agreed-upon plans for collective bargaining.
"The company says they have world-class benefits and pay, but for many workers, that's not the reality," noted Starbucks Workers United on social media. According to reports, many workers struggle to receive enough hours to qualify for those purported benefits, and annual raises fall short of keeping pace with inflation. The union has urged supporters to stand with them by refraining from purchasing Starbucks products during the strike.
Over 60 locations have reportedly closed because of the fallout from the strike. A notable group, dubbed Philly Workers United, reported at least five Starbucks locations across Philadelphia were closed just the day before the broader strike announcement. Striking baristas have also been seen on picket lines extending from Texas to Massachusetts.
Starbucks responded to the growing labor movement by stating, "We respect our partners’ right to engage in lawful strike activity, and we appreciate the thousands of partners across the country who are continuing to support each other and deliver the Starbucks experience for our customers." The corporation insists its pay and benefits for workers, which average around $18 per hour plus additional advantages like healthcare, free college tuition, and paid family leave, is among the best offered by any retailer.
Despite such claims, the union has consistently labeled Starbucks' wage offers as insufficient, calling for immediate increases. The proposals put forth by Starbucks Workers United request 64% raises to the minimum wage for hourly workers and cumulative increases of 77% over the span of the next three years, which the company argues would be financially unsustainable.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who recently took the reins of the company, has faced scrutiny over the disparities between executive compensation and worker pay. Reports indicate he could earn upwards of $50,000 per hour as the leader of the coffee chain, mirroring frustrations from employees who claim they are unable to make ends meet.
Barista Shay Mannik, who has been with Starbucks for two years, expressed her disappointment over the lack of actionable economic proposals from management. "We've been in contract negotiations with Starbucks for several months now, and things have been going smoothly up until this point — when they have now refused to offer us a viable economic package. They just have not been offering us anywhere close to a living wage," she said.
While Starbucks operates over 11,000 stores, the union reported last week overwhelming support among its members, with 98% approving the strike authorization. The workers' collective actions represent the largest coordinated strike seen against the coffee giant.
On the final day of the nationwide strike, locations like two Starbucks stores in Iowa — one on Clinton Street and the other on 53rd Street — also joined the action. Shift supervisor Abigail Scheppmann at the Iowa City store emphasized, "All workers deserve a living wage; they deserve respect. I think people don’t understand how hard these jobs are." Scheppmann criticized the company's recent raises as being far too low to be of any real help to employees.
Starbucks has indicated its willingness to return to negotiations with the union to resolve outstanding issues. A company spokesperson remarked, "We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table." Nevertheless, with the strike poised to escalate through Christmas Eve, it remains to be seen what the outcome of these labor disputes will be and whether workers’ demands will be met.
