Baristas who are part of unions in 65 Starbucks locations throughout the United States initiated a strike on Thursday to reinforce their efforts in reaching a collective bargaining agreement that addresses concerns regarding wages and staffing levels.
Since negotiations ceased in December 2024, discussions between the union and Starbucks have not been active. Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) revealed on their website that Starbucks put forth a new economic proposal in April, which was rejected by union members.
Following the rejection, Starbucks released a statement on April 25 stating, “Despite over 200 hours of negotiations and more than 130 proposals exchanged, Workers United chose to introduce an incomplete framework for single-store contracts to their delegates for voting, thus obstructing our collective progress.”
More than 1,000 Starbucks employees in 40 U.S. cities are currently on strike, as reported by the union. The strike coincided with Starbucks’s Red Cup Day on Nov. 13, a sales event that typically marks the beginning of the coffee chain’s hectic holiday period.
“After six months of Starbucks neglecting to provide new proposals to address the demands for improved staffing, higher wages, and resolution of numerous unfair labor practice allegations, the strike was called,” SBWU stated on their website. Despite a request for comment from CBC News, SBWU did not respond before publication.
In a statement to CBC News, Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson mentioned that “less than 1 percent” of their coffeehouses were experiencing any disruptions due to the strike.
Requests from the Union
The SBWU highlighted various demands that Starbucks has yet to tackle, including concerns over understaffing and wage hikes.
While acknowledging past achievements as a union, SBWU emphasized the need for Starbucks to engage more actively in contract negotiations. The union expressed, “It is crucial to reach an agreement to move forward.”
On the other hand, Starbucks expressed disappointment in Workers United’s decision to strike instead of returning to negotiations, citing that the union represents less than four percent of their partners.
SBWU noted that merely coming to the bargaining table would be futile if Starbucks does not present proposals that address the union’s concerns.
Since its inception with the first unionized Starbucks shop in Buffalo, New York, in 2021, SBWU has expanded to represent thousands of baristas. Presently, 550 Starbucks locations out of approximately 17,000 across the U.S. are affiliated with SBWU.
Sociology professor Barry Eidlin from McGill University suggested that the union’s progress could be attributed to its grassroots approach, diverging from conventional union models in recent years.
While the outcomes regarding wage increases and staffing improvements remain uncertain, Eidlin acknowledged the union’s significant accomplishments through its grassroots organizational strategies over recent years.
In September, numerous Starbucks locations in North America were closed, and 900 non-retail employees were laid off