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Starbucks baristas to strike for 5 days
Starbucks workers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle plan to strike starting Friday.
CHICAGO - Starbucks workers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle plan to strike starting Friday.
The strike, announced in a post on X, is set to run from Dec. 20 to Dec. 24 in response to the company allegedly "backtracking" on its "promised path forward."
The strike is the latest escalation in ongoing tensions between Starbucks and the union.
Seattle-based Starbucks said Workers United prematurely ended a bargaining session this week.
"Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners," said Lynne Fox, president of Workers United.
Starbucks said it already offers pay and benefits — including free college tuition and paid family leave — worth $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week.
"Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract. This is not sustainable," a Starbucks spokesperson said Friday.
The company stated that there was no major impact on store operations on Friday.
"We are aware of disruption at a small handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our US stores remain open and serving customers as normal," said Phil Gee, spokesperson for Starbucks.
A full statement from the company can be found below:
Workers United delegates prematurely ended our bargaining session this week. It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date. Since April we’ve held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days. We’ve reached over thirty (30) meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.
We are focused on enhancing the partner (employee) experience, with over $3 billion invested in the last three years. Starbucks offers a competitive average pay of over $18 per hour, and best-in-class benefits. Taken together they are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week. Benefits include health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants. No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package.
We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.