Hundreds of Starbucks baristas walked off the job in 34 US cities on Thursday (December 11), intensifying a month-long strike as the union pushed for the coffee chain’s first-ever labor contract.
The union announced that more than 3,800 baristas have joined the nationwide strike, which now affects more than 180 stores in 130 cities, marking the longest work stoppage in Starbucks history.
The protest began on November 13 during the Starbucks Red Cup Day promotion, started at 65 stores in more than 40 cities, and grew as new union workers joined the action.
Society’s reaction
Starbucks claimed the strike did not cause any significant disruption to operations worldwide. Jaci Anderson, director of global communications, said, “Less than 1% of our 17,000 US coffee shops have been affected by unionization efforts at any given time.”
The company added that it will return to the bargaining table once the union is ready to resume negotiations. Starbucks also emphasized that it has invested more than $500 million to improve staffing and add additional partners during busy periods.
Union requirements
The Starbucks Workers United union, which represents 11,000 baristas at more than 550 active U.S. stores, is demanding:
-More predictable plans
Unions say current working conditions leave baristas overworked and underpaid.
Background of negotiations
Contract negotiations stalled in February after workers rejected a package proposed by Starbucks in April that included annual raises of at least 2%.
Some 560 shops have voted for representation since the first union election four years ago, but baristas still lack a formal labor contract to secure better wages and benefits.
Starbucks to pay $35 million to NYC workers
Starbucks recently agreed to pay roughly $35 million to more than 15,000 workers in New York City to settle claims that it denied stable schedules and arbitrarily cut work hours. The settlement also includes $3.4 million in civil penalties and an obligation to comply with the city’s Fair Workweek Act going forward.
The most affected hourly workers will receive $50 for each week worked between July 2021 and July 2024, while those who violate the rules after that can file a complaint for compensation. The deal also ensures that employees laid off during the recent store closings will have the opportunity to return to other locations.
Union strike
The settlement comes as the Starbucks union strike that began last month continues in the US. Workers are demanding better hours, more staffing and a formal labor contract nearly four years after the first union vote at the Buffalo store. About 550 of the 10,000 Starbucks-owned stores are now unionized.
The strikers described ongoing problems in the workplace, including chronic understaffing, complicated online ordering and last-minute scheduling of calls.
Political support of workers
Hours before the settlement was announced, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders visited striking baristas at a Brooklyn store on Dec. 1. Mamdani told the crowd, “These are not the demands of greed – these are the demands of decency.”
Sanders added, “Starbucks refused to sit down and negotiate a fair contract,” noting that four years after the first union vote, workers still lack formal protections.
