Starbucks workers are planning to walk off the job during the busy holiday season, with strikes scheduled across three major U.S. cities starting Friday. The labor action, organized by Workers United, will affect stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle.
The five-day strike campaign, running through December 24, stems from what the union describes as stalled contract negotiations and unresolved labor practices. Workers United, representing over 525 unionized Starbucks locations nationwide, warns that the strikes could expand to hundreds of stores coast-to-coast by Christmas Eve.
The union's primary grievance centers on Starbucks' alleged failure to deliver on promises made in February 2024, when both parties agreed to work toward a collective bargaining framework. According to Workers United, the company has yet to present a "serious economic proposal" despite public pledges to reach agreements by year's end.
Starbucks maintains that union delegates prematurely ended recent bargaining sessions. The company points to its current benefits package, including an average wage of $18 per hour, health care coverage, college tuition assistance, paid family leave, and stock grants.
"Nobody wants to strike. It's a last resort," said Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a five-year Starbucks barista and bargaining delegate. The timing of the strike coincides with one of the company's busiest periods, when holiday drink specials typically drive high customer traffic.
The strike announcement comes as labor actions increase across various industries during the holiday season, with Amazon delivery workers also planning walkouts through their Teamsters union representation.
Customers in affected cities may face disruptions in service, particularly for seasonal favorites like peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes, as workers press for improved working conditions and wage negotiations.