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Greater than 1,000 unionized Starbucks baristas went on strike at 65 shops in main U.S. cities Thursday, protesting stalled labor negotiations with the corporate.
The strike aimed to disrupt Starbucks’ Pink Cup Day — one among its busiest days — when the corporate arms out free reusable cups to vacation drink patrons.
“We’re turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion. Starbucks’ refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action,” Dachi Spoltore, a barista in Pittsburgh, stated in a press launch from Starbucks Employees United, the union organizing the strike.
Organizers stated the strike would have an effect on shops in 45 cities, together with New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, San Diego, Dallas and Starbucks’ hometown of Seattle.
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Employees picket in entrance of a Starbucks outlet in New York Metropolis, Oct. 1, 2025. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid/File Photograph / Reuters Photographs)
With no finish date for the strike set, organizers stated extra shops are ready to hitch via the vacation season if the 2 sides don’t attain a contract settlement.
Organizers have accused the coffeehouse chain of union-busting, refusing to barter a good contract and perpetuating lots of of unresolved labor-law violations.
Employees are demanding higher staffing and extra hours, greater take-home pay and fairer compensation, and a decision to 700+ pending unfair labor follow instances filed with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, in line with union organizers.
A Starbucks spokesperson stated the strike will influence lower than 1% of its coffeehouses, with the overwhelming majority remaining open and serving clients as regular.
“We’re disappointed that Workers United, who represents less than 4% of our partners, has called for a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table,” the spokesperson stated.
Individuals cross by a Starbucks espresso store in Manhattan, New York, United States on Jan. 15, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu through Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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The corporate stated it is able to proceed negotiations at any time when the union chooses to return to the desk.
“Any agreement needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners,” the spokesperson added.
Since December 2021, greater than 12,000 Starbucks staff at almost 650 shops have unionized. But progress on a primary contract has stalled regardless of bargaining periods between April and December 2024.
Ticker Safety Final Change Change % SBUX STARBUCKS CORP. 87.26 +0.84
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When CEO Brian Niccol took the reins of the coffeehouse chain over a 12 months in the past, he pledged to reset relations with workers, although the union says progress on a good contract has stalled beneath his management.
FOX Enterprise’ Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
