Starbucks Barista Strike Expands to 300 Locations, Union Says

A Starbucks Corp. barista strike will spread to more than 300 cafes, according to its worker union, disrupting service at locations nationwide during the final days of the crucial holiday shopping season.

Over 5,000 workers in cities including Boston, New York and Philadelphia will join the work stoppage on Tuesday, according to an emailed statement from Starbucks Workers United. Elected officials, including Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, have also joined striking baristas on the picket line over previous days, with the union asking for further support on its last scheduled day of action.

The walkouts began on Dec. 20 at a handful of locations in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle and escalated over the following days. About 60 stores were shut down due to strikes as of Monday, the coffee chain said.

“The overwhelming number” of Starbucks’ more than 10,000 company-operated stores in the US remained open as usual, and the “vast majority” will continue to do so, the chain said in a statement posted on the company’s website on Monday. 

Starbucks Workers United planned the walkouts to coincide with the days leading up to Christmas. It’s an important time for Starbucks as shoppers treat themselves to lattes while finishing up their holiday shopping. In addition to beverages, the company sells a large volume of gift cards during the year’s final months.

A breakdown in final-stage negotiations

The strikes were sparked by a breakdown in final-stage negotiations between the union and company leadership, according to the union, which represents employees at over 500 stores. Starbucks Workers United said the coffee chain offered a package that included no immediate pay raises for its members.

Unionized employees and the company have been facing off since the first store organized for better pay, hours and schedules in December 2021.

Earlier, Starbucks said the union “prematurely ended” a bargaining session and called for talks to continue. The coffee chain has said it’s focused on improving workers’ experience and that baristas who work at least 20 hours a week receive $30 an hour, on average, when combining pay and benefits. 

Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol, who took the top job in September, has pledged to negotiate with the union in good faith. The Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and Taco Bell veteran was hired to turn around sagging sales. Since he took over on Sept. 9, the stock has declined 5.2%, compared with a 9.2% gain for the S&P 500 Index.