Starbucks workers across the nation are intensifying their efforts in what has become the largest unfair labor practice strike in the coffee giant’s history. More than 300 stores are expected to be impacted as baristas demand fair wages and improved working conditions. The walkouts, organized by Starbucks Workers United, have grown steadily since last Friday and are set to continue through the holidays, shaking the core of the company’s operations.
Why Baristas Are Striking
The strikes are fueled by frustration over stalled union contract negotiations. Starbucks Workers United, which represents employees at 525 locations, has accused the company of failing to deliver on earlier commitments. “The holiday season should be magical at Starbucks, but for too many of us, there’s a darker side to the peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes,” said Arloa Fluhr, a bargaining delegate from Illinois. She explained how unpredictable hours and low wages make it difficult for workers like her to make ends meet. “I’m a mom of three, including my daughter who is diabetic. I know what it’s like to panic because my hours were slashed, and I won’t be able to pay my bills and could lose access to healthcare, including my daughter’s insulin.”
Union representatives say that Starbucks proposed an economic package in December that offered no immediate wage increases for unionized baristas and only a 1.5% annual increase in subsequent years—an offer they called “insulting.” “Workers regularly struggle to receive the hours we need to qualify for benefits and pay our bills. Starbucks needs to invest in the workers who run their stores,” the union stated.
The Scope of the Strike
Cities across the country, from Boston and Philadelphia to Portland and Tucson, have seen workers join the picket lines. The movement began in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago but quickly expanded to include other major cities like New York, Pittsburgh, and Denver. As of Tuesday, Starbucks Workers United reported that nearly 300 locations across 45 states were fully shut down due to the strike.
Elected officials have also shown their support. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander were among those who joined workers on the picket lines over the weekend. The union has called for customers to boycott Starbucks stores during the strikes and to show solidarity by visiting picket lines.
Starbucks Responds
Starbucks has pushed back against the union’s claims, emphasizing that the majority of its 10,000 U.S. locations remain operational. Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ executive vice president and chief partner officer, stated, “The overwhelming majority of Starbucks stores across the country have opened as planned and are busy with customers enjoying the holidays. Some of the stores that temporarily closed earlier in the weekend have reopened as partners sought to come back to work.”
The company also defended its compensation structure, highlighting an average pay of over $18 per hour and a “best-in-class” benefits package, including health care, paid family leave, and free college tuition. Starbucks argued that the union’s proposals, which include an immediate $20-per-hour minimum wage and annual 5% raises, are unsustainable. “No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package,” Kelly said.
However, union representatives dispute these claims. Michelle Eisen, a 14-year Starbucks barista in Buffalo, New York, called the company’s characterization of their demands “false and misleading.” Eisen added, “We are ready to finalize a framework that includes new investments in baristas in the first year of contracts.”
A Growing Movement
The strike marks a significant escalation in a labor movement that began in 2021, when a store in Buffalo became the first Starbucks location to unionize. Since then, the union has worked to organize employees across the country, advocating for higher wages, better healthcare, more consistent schedules, and enhanced paid leave policies.
Ruby Walters, a Starbucks employee in Columbus, Ohio, summed up the sentiment shared by many on the picket lines: “Most workers have a very similar experience of the company not affording them enough resources that they need, not only to take home and improve their lives, but literally on the job.”
As the holiday season—one of Starbucks’ busiest times of the year—reaches its peak, the stakes for both workers and the company couldn’t be higher. Whether Starbucks and the union can reach an agreement remains to be seen, but for now, the “strike before Christmas” has underscored the growing power of collective action in the workplace.
