Starbucks baristas are on strike to grow to more than 300+ stores on a nationwide tour
Starbucks Genes St. shift manager. Caroline Lerczak in building the first Starbucks union in the US
The fast-growing unjust strike by Starbucks baristas is set to hit a milestone on Tuesday as hundreds of stores across the country. prepare to join the walk in the great coffee place.
The Starbucks Workers United strike, sparked by a breakdown in union contract negotiations, began Friday and is expected to continue over the holidays — potentially affecting more than 300 stores nationwide, according to Workers United.
Baristas in Boston, Philadelphia, Portland and Tucson walked out on Monday and joined their colleagues already on strike in Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle and St.
“The holiday season should be magical at Starbucks, but for many of us, there’s a dark side to peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes,” wrote Arloa Fluhr, a negotiator from Illinois, in a statement. “I am a mother of three children, including my daughter who has diabetes. I know what it’s like to panic because my hours have been reduced, I won’t be able to pay the bills and I may lose access to health care, including my daughter. Insulin is why we are focused on our demand for Starbucks to invest in baristas like me.”
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Baristas pick up in front of Starbucks in Burbank, California, December 20, 2024. (Photos by Reuters / Reuters)
Workers United reported that Starbucks backtracked on its earlier commitment, proposing an economic package in December without a pay increase for union baristas and a guarantee of only 1.5% in the coming years.
Baristas picket in front of Starbucks in Los Angeles, California, December 23, 2024. (Photos by Reuters / Reuters)
The increase will be less than 50 cents an hour for most baristas, according to the union.
Elected officials on Sunday joined workers at the picket line, including Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Sara Kelly, Starbucks vice president and chief operating officer, released a statement noting that during the strikes, “a very small number of stores” were temporarily closed.
Only about 170 Starbucks stores did not open as planned, FOX Business said Tuesday. With more than 10,000 stores operated by the company, 98% of stores and more than 200,000 employees continued to serve customers.
A barista holds a picket sign in front of a Starbucks in Los Angeles, California, on December 23, 2024. (Photos by Reuters / Reuters)
“Dozens of Starbucks stores across the country are open as planned and busy with customers enjoying the holidays,” Kelly wrote in a statement. “Some of the shops that were temporarily closed over the weekend are open as our colleagues wanted to go back to work.
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The company said it offers a competitive wage of more than $18 an hour and “excellent top-notch benefits,” including health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants.
“No other retailer offers this type of comprehensive benefits package,” Kelly wrote. “Workers United’s proposals call for the minimum hourly wage to be increased by 64%, and by 77% over the course of a three-year contract. These proposals are unsustainable, especially when the investments we make regularly reach our value. The benefits package is a symbol of what sets us apart as an employer – and, what makes us proud to work at Starbucks.
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Starbucks says it is the union that chose to withdraw from negotiations last week.
“We are ready to continue negotiations when the union returns to the negotiating table,” said the statement.
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