The Starbucks union is currently on strike in three cities. This significant development comes as the Starbucks Workers United members conducted their initial strike in 13 months on Friday, intending to escalate the strike until Christmas Eve. This would mark the union’s most significant work stoppage since the organizing campaign at the coffee retailer commenced three years ago.
The three cities where the strikes are taking place are Starbucks’ birthplace, Seattle, as well as Chicago and Los Angeles. These locations were identified by the union as critical markets for the company. The union has warned the company that the strike will expand to hundreds of locations across the country by Christmas Eve unless Starbucks commits to adhering to a framework for negotiating its first union contract.
The journey towards unionization started back in December 2021 when Starbucks Workers United began organizing store-by-store throughout the company’s network following their victory in the inaugural union election in Buffalo. The National Labor Relations Board has confirmed that the union now represents 12,000 workers at 528 stores with a decline in support at 100 stores. While this is progress, it is still a small fraction of the company’s 11,200 company-operated stores in the United States, which employ approximately 201,000 workers as of the end of September.
The recent strike at Starbucks represents a turning point in the union’s efforts to secure a fair contract for its members. The union has conducted a series of strikes at a subset of its represented stores since the initial strike at approximately 100 locations in November 2022. During these strikes, many stores remained open as the company utilized managers and workers from adjacent non-union stores to keep operations running smoothly. Only ten locations across three cities were unable to operate as usual on Friday.
Starbucks has stated that the strikes have not significantly impacted its overall store operations. Despite the disruption at a small number of stores, the majority of US stores are operational and providing customers with their usual services, according to spokesperson Phil Gee.
The union’s decision to escalate the strike until Christmas Eve marks a significant step in their ongoing negotiations with Starbucks management. The union has been working towards negotiating its initial labor agreement since winning the right to represent thousands of Starbucks workers. Despite making progress in previous negotiations, the union felt that management had failed to fulfill the terms of their agreement, leading them to take the drastic step of calling for the strike.
In a statement released by the union, bargaining delegate Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi expressed the sentiment that striking was a last resort due to Starbucks’ violations of their commitments to thousands of baristas. Despite investing in top executive talent, Starbucks had failed to provide its baristas with a viable economic proposal, driving the union to take action.
Starbucks maintains that it is prepared to resume negotiations and reach a fair agreement with the union. However, the union alleges that management has reversed its initial progress since CEO Brian Niccol assumed his role in September.
Michelle Eisen, a long-time Starbucks barista and union organizer, highlighted that the company’s failure to present viable economic proposals was a breach of their commitment to baristas. The union has cited the company’s executive compensation, particularly the contract offered to CEO Brian Niccol, as evidence that Starbucks can do more to invest in its workers.
As the strike continues and negotiations remain at an impasse, both Starbucks and the union are facing a critical juncture in their relationship. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for Starbucks workers across the country and the future of labor relations within the company.
