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Starbucks workers at 65 unionized stores stage one-day strike over stalled contract talks
More than 1,000 baristas at 65 unionized Starbucks locations across the U.S. walked off the job on Thursday, escalating pressure on the coffee giant to address pay, staffing shortages, and hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice charges. The strike-timed to coincide with the company's high-traffic Red Cup Day holiday promotion-marks the latest flashpoint in a years-long dispute between Starbucks Workers United and corporate leadership.
Union demands and contract stalemate
Negotiations for a first-ever union contract collapsed in spring after both sides failed to reach terms on economic priorities, including wages and scheduling. The union, which represents workers at over 600 of Starbucks' 15,000+ company-owned U.S. stores, accused the company of offering insufficient raises-proposing 0% in the first year and 2% annually thereafter, a figure workers argue fails to offset inflation or rising healthcare costs. In April, baristas overwhelmingly rejected Starbucks' contract proposal.
Union leaders warn the strike could expand if no progress is made. "We're risking our jobs, our livelihoods-this isn't a game for us," said Dachi Spoltore, a striking barista from Pittsburgh, during a press call. The union is urging customers to boycott Starbucks until a fair agreement is reached, chanting: "No contract, no coffee."
Worker testimonies highlight strain
Baristas described grueling conditions exacerbated by understaffing and new corporate policies. Rami Saied, a 27-year-old union member in Brooklyn, said she has worked shifts with just one coworker, leading to 30-minute drink delays and "back-breaking" labor. "You're left without dignity," she told reporters outside her store, where strikers picketed and redirected customers to competing cafés.
"We just want a livable wage and to be treated like people."
Kaari Harsila, 21, a shift supervisor in Brooklyn who joined the walkout
Harsila, a four-year Starbucks employee, cited frustration over denied hours and hostility from customers after the chain implemented policies like restricting bathroom access to paying patrons. "The new rules make our jobs harder," she said, referencing CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" strategy, which includes stricter dress codes and a ban on non-customer bathroom use.
Company response and broader challenges
Starbucks downplayed the strike's impact, noting it affects "fewer than 1%" of its U.S. locations. "Any agreement must reflect that Starbucks already offers the best job in retail," spokesperson Jaci Anderson said, pointing to an average hourly compensation of $30 (including benefits) and low turnover rates. The company blamed the union for stalled talks, calling its wage demands "unrealistic" and warning they could disrupt operations.
Yet the walkout adds to mounting pressures on Starbucks, which has grappled with consumer boycotts, leadership turnover, and flat U.S. sales despite a recent 1% global uptick-its first quarterly growth in nearly two years. CEO Brian Niccol, hired in 2024 to replicate his turnaround success at Chipotle and Taco Bell, has pledged $500 million to improve staffing and training. However, workers argue his policies, like reintroducing ceramic mugs and cup customization, have increased their workload without adequate support.
Context: A union movement four years in the making
Starbucks Workers United launched in 2021 and has since won elections at roughly 5% of the chain's corporate stores. The union accuses Starbucks of retaliating against organizers and dragging out contract negotiations-a claim the company denies. Mediator-assisted talks began in January but stalled over core issues, including hundreds of pending unfair labor practice complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
Analysts note the strike's symbolic timing during Red Cup Day, a key holiday marketing event, could draw broader attention to the labor dispute. "This is about visibility," said a union strategist. "Starbucks can't ignore us when customers see empty stores."
