On Christmas Eve, employees of Starbucks across the United States staged walkouts, part of a nationwide effort led by Starbucks Workers United as they demand improved wages and working conditions. Reports emerged of strikes from locations as diverse as Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Malta, New York, highlighting the collective frustration among workers.
At least three Starbucks stores in Cheyenne saw their employees walking off the job, with only one store remaining open under management staff. This walkout followed a week of unrest, where 98% of the union’s membership voted to strike due to stagnant contract negotiations. Madi Oates, the bargaining delegate for Wyoming, expressed the motivations behind the strike, stating, "It's mostly to put pressure on the company to actually show up to the table, give us an actual offer, because we're asking for a livable wage here." Cheyenne's workers joined their counterparts from major cities like Chicago and San Francisco who had also taken similar actions.
Meanwhile, at the Malta Starbucks near the Adirondack Northway, workers participated in their first strike of this kind, temporarily closing the store on December 24. This location’s strike reflects the nationwide push, as 11,000 Starbucks employees across over 500 locations are affiliated with the union aiming to negotiate fair contracts. The urgency for action became clear when union leaders published their concerns, highlighting the vast chasm between employee wages and corporate executive compensation—where workers can earn about $16.50 per hour compared to the CEO’s staggering hourly wage of $57,000.
According to the union, frustrations with Starbucks escalated to the point where they claimed $100 million worth of unresolved legal issues are still pending with the company. Union representatives are adamant about securing fair pay, benefits, and working conditions as they seek recourse against what they label unfair labor practices.
On December 17, the workers’ overwhelming vote to strike was announced, following dissatisfaction with contract offers from Starbucks. The union claimed the former offer consisted of only a 34-cent raise per year—a figure far below the workers' expectations for maintaining living standards. With the current economic climate, those raises don't seem to bridge the gap for many workers who are struggling to keep up with inflation and living expenses.
Despite being labeled as a right-to-work state, Oates explained how such regulations have not hindered their organizing efforts. "Our contract will be federally bound," she noted, emphasizing protections put in place for those workers involved. There has been noticeable support for these strikes from the community, with traffic passing by honking as signs of solidarity were raised. "A lot of people had their blinkers on, just continue to drive through, not stop. They weren't going to cross a picket line," shared Oates, reflecting on the positive response from public sentiment.
The series of strikes come from over six months of contract negotiations between Starbucks Workers United and the corporation, with initial discussions commencing back in April. The issues remain largely unresolved, particularly concerning proposals for economic relief amid rising living costs.
Despite the temporary nature of the strikes reported directly after Christmas, the growing momentum among Starbucks employees indicates they may not stop advocating until substantial progress is made. The union has seen successes recently, claiming the unionization of 100 new stores throughout the country, but they recognize much work remains.
The Christmas Eve strikes, which resulted from accumulated frustrations, demonstrate the resolve of workers when faced with economic challenges and organizational inertia. These employees are committed to ensuring their voices are heard and, with their union backing, aim to negotiate viable solutions to their grievances.
Starbucks has yet to release any official statements about the strikes or the union's demands as workers continue to mobilize for their rights amid the busy holiday season.
