Visitors to dozens of Starbucks stores across more than 40 cities may be greeted with picket lines today as Starbucks baristas go on strike.
And it’s a strike that couldn’t come at a worse time for Starbucks, as today is the company’s annual Red Cup Day, which kicks off the Seattle coffee giant’s holiday sales season. Here’s what to know:
What’s happened?
Today, unionized Starbucks baristas went on strike at more than 65 Starbucks locations across 42 cities.
The baristas are members of the Starbucks Workers Union (SBWU), a collective that says it includes over 12,000 Starbucks workers across 550 unionized stores. The union says it has been in stalled negotiations with Starbucks over three primary issues.
Those issues include better working hours to improve staffing in Starbucks stores, higher take-home pay, and a resolution to hundreds of unfair labor practice charges for union busting.
The stalled negotiations are the main driver for the union’s strike actions kicking off today. Both Starbucks and the Starbucks Workers Union blame each other for the stalled negotiations.
It should also be noted that Starbucks disputes SBWU’s claim that the union represents 12,000 members. Starbucks says the union represents “approximately 9,500 partners in 550 coffeehouses.”
The strike actions will initially involve around 1,000 unionized baristas, but SBWU says those numbers could grow as the strike progresses. And it is a strike designed to put maximum pressure on Starbucks leaders.
The strike kicks off today, a day that Starbucks designates as Red Cup Day, which kicks off its annual holiday sales. Customers can get a free reusable red cup with the purchase of a holiday-themed drink at a Starbucks store.
What does the Starbucks Workers Union say?
In a press release announcing the strike, SBWU representatives blamed the stalled negotiations on Starbucks.
“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,” a Starbucks barista and SBWU member said. “We’re striking for a fair union contract, resolution of unfair labor practices, and a better future at Starbucks.”
Michelle Eisen, a spokesperson for Starbucks Workers United, added, “Starbucks knows where we stand. We’ve been clear and consistent on what baristas need to succeed: more take-home pay, better hours, resolving legal issues. Bring us NEW proposals that address these issues so we can finalize a contract. Until then, you’ll see us and our allies on the picket line.”
The union says it would cost Starbucks less than one day’s worth of sales to finalize a fair contract with its workers—but that is something the multibillion-dollar coffee chain has so far failed to do.
What does Starbucks say?
Jaci Anderson, director of global communications at Starbucks, told Fast Company in an email that despite the strike kicking off today, the company was currently seeing “minimal impact” across its stores.
Anderson went on to say that the company was disappointed that SBWU called for a strike instead of returning to the table for negotiations.
“We’ve been very clear—when the union is ready to come back to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk,” Anderson said, adding, “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.”
Starbucks also pointed to a November 5 letter published by chief partner officer Sara Kelly. In that letter, Kelly criticized some of SBWU’s proposals, including immediate pay increases of 65% as well as additional payments for other aspects of work.
“Some of the proposals would significantly affect store operations and customer experience, including the ability to shut down channels like Mobile Order when there are just five orders in the queue,” Kelly wrote. “These aren’t serious, evidence-based proposals.”
The company has also disputed SBWU’s assertion that it would cost the company just one day of sales to finalize the union’s contract demands.
When is the Starbucks barista strike?
The Starbucks barista strike begins today, Thursday, November 13.
How many stores will be on strike?
To begin with, more than 65 stores will see baristas taking part in strike action. However, that number could expand in the future. The Starbucks Workers Union represents 550 Starbucks stores across the country.
Where will the strike take place?
Initially, the Starbucks barista strike will take place at more than 65 Starbucks locations across 42 cities. The website No Contract, No Coffee has a full list and map. The cities are:
- Anaheim, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Santa Clarita, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Scotts Valley, CA
- Seal Beach, CA
- Soquel, CA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Lafayette, CO
- Des Plaines, IL
- Evanston, IL
- Geneva, IL
- Alpharetta, GA
- Roswell, GA
- Chanhassen, MN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Saint Louis, MO
- Brooklyn, NY
- New York, NY
- Columbus, OH
- Lewis Center, OH
- Reynoldsburg, OH
- Upper Arlington, OH
- Worthington, OH
- Beaverton, OR
- Damascus, OR
- Eugene, OR
- Gresham, OR
- Portland, OR
- Dickson City, PA
- Lancaster, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Denton, TX
- Farmers Branch, TX
- Mechanicsville, VA
- Richmond, VA
- Redmond, WA
- Seattle, WA
When will the strike end?
That likely depends on how long it takes Starbucks and SBWU to come back to the table.
“With no set end date to the strike, baristas across more than 550 current union stores are prepared to continue escalating to make this the largest, longest strike in company history if Starbucks fails to deliver a fair union contract and resolve unfair labor practice charges,” the SBWU warned.
This story is developing…
