Starbucks Barista Strike Expands to 300 Locations Nationwide
On December 20, 2024, Starbucks employees picket in front of a Starbucks in Burbank, California, holding signs calling for collective bargaining agreements.
At the start of the company’s crucial holiday season, a Starbucks barista strike is spreading to over 5,000 employees in more than 300 locations throughout 45 states.
It is an extension of an initiative that started last week in three cities, although it still only accounts for about 3% of all Starbucks shops in the United States.
The walkout, which is being organized by Starbucks Workers United and the Service Employees International Union, is intended to raise awareness of alleged unfair labor practices and the ongoing negotiations over a contract that would cover thousands of workers. The employees want Starbucks’ minimum hourly wage to rise by up to 64% right away and by more than 77% over the course of a three-year contract.
In a statement, Workers Union President Lynne Fox stated, “After all Starbucks has claimed about how they respect partners throughout the system, we refuse to accept zero immediate investment in baristas’ pay and no resolution of the hundreds of ongoing unfair labor practices.” “Baristas will not accept a proposal that does not treat them as actual partners because they understand their importance.”
A Starbucks executive described the union’s demands as “unsustainable” in a message sent to staff members that the business publicized. The official also highlighted the benefits package that workers can obtain, pointing out that employees who work at least 20 hours a week often earn $30 per hour when pay and benefits are combined.
Executive vice president of Starbucks Sara Kelly stated, “Last week, the union decided to withdraw from negotiations.” “When the union returns to the bargaining table, we are prepared to resume negotiations.”
After hiring Brian Niccol, the CEO of Chipotle, to lead the coffee business in August, Starbucks saw a spike in investor enthusiasm; but, its share price has since fallen in recent weeks in tandem with the general market slump.
Although Niccol’s prior employment at the burrito restaurant included at least two worker settlements that the National Labor Relations Board mandated, he has promised to engage in good faith negotiations with the union.
