The union representing Starbucks baristas plans to go on strike for five days starting this Friday (20), after an impasse in negotiations, the group said.
Starbucks Workers United said its members plan to walk away from unionized stores in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. The union, which represents employees at more than 500 of the company’s 10,000 U.S.-operated stores, said workers decided to strike after the coffee chain presented a proposal that did not offer immediate raises for the union’s baristas.
Starbucks and its union have been in a long battle since the first store was organized in December 2021, seeking better wages, hours and working conditions.
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This is the first strike since at least February, when Starbucks and the union agreed to restart negotiations. There have been many strikes in previous years, including one last month on the company’s Red Cup Day, when Starbucks distributes its holiday-themed reusable cups across the U.S.
The union said it expects the strikes to spread to hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve.
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In a statement, Starbucks said the union “prematurely ended” the bargaining session this week.
“We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements,” the company said. “We need the union to come back to the table.”
The two sides reached “significant agreements” on more than 30 issues that are important to workers, including economic demands, according to the company. Starbucks added that it is focused on improving the worker experience and that its wages and benefits for baristas who work at least 20 hours a week are worth an average of $30 per hour.
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