Espresso Strikes Back: Starbucks Union Takes Action in Three Cities

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The Starbucks union is currently on strike in three major cities across the United States. The Starbucks Workers United members initiated their strike after 13 months on Friday and plan to escalate the strike until Christmas Eve. This strike is the most significant work stoppage the union has conducted since beginning its organizing campaign at the coffee retailer three years ago.

The cities of Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles, which the union identified as critical markets for the company, are all set to begin strikes on Friday. The company has been warned that unless it commits to negotiating its first union contract, the strike will spread to hundreds of locations across the country by Christmas Eve.

Since December of 2021, Starbucks Workers United has been organizing store-by-store throughout the company’s network after winning its inaugural union election in Buffalo. As per the latest data from the National Labor Relations Board, the union has secured the right to represent 12,000 workers at 528 stores while facing a decline in support at 100 stores. This represents only a small fraction of the company’s 11,200 company-operated stores in the United States, which employed around 201,000 workers as of the end of September.

The competition for the initial union contract has been ongoing since the union’s first strike at approximately 100 locations in November 2022. Subsequent strikes have occurred at a subset of union-represented stores. Despite this, most of the stores that were on strike were able to remain open as the company replaced striking workers with managers and workers from nearby non-union stores. A source familiar with the strike’s impact informed CNN that only ten locations across three cities were unable to operate normally on Friday.

Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee stated that while a small number of stores experienced disruptions, the overall store operations were not significantly affected. The company acknowledges the disruption but notes that the vast majority of its U.S. stores remain operational and are providing services to customers as usual.

This is the first major strike called by the union since November of 2023, despite ongoing negotiations between the company and the union that had shown progress throughout the year.

Unlike prolonged strikes seen at other companies, Starbucks Workers United has only ever engaged in strikes of predetermined durations against Starbucks. In recent years, U.S. unions have been favoring shorter, predetermined-duration strikes that have proven effective in some cases, such as the 2023 strike at Kaiser Permanente.

The union maintains that it had established a framework with Starbucks management to address legal complaints and negotiate its first labor agreement since February. However, the union alleges that management has failed to honor the terms of the agreement, leading to the strike.

Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a bargaining delegate and five-year Starbucks barista from Texas, stated that the strike is a last resort and that Starbucks has violated its commitment to baristas. The union emphasizes that it is dedicated to reaching an agreement and is ready to resume negotiations.

Starbucks acknowledges the progress made in negotiations but claims that the union’s economic proposals, including a significant increase in the minimum wage for hourly partners, are unsustainable. The company cites offering an average salary of over $18 per hour and a comprehensive benefits package as evidence of its commitment to its workers.

The union contends that Starbucks management has reversed its initial progress since September, when Brian Niccol assumed the role of CEO. The union points to Niccol’s executive compensation as a sign that the company has the resources to invest in its workforce.

Despite ongoing negotiations and progress in recent months, the union remains committed to its cause and is prepared to take further action to ensure that Starbucks fulfills its commitments to its workers. The strike will continue until Christmas Eve unless an agreement is reached.

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