The Starbucks Workers Union on Thursday launched an open-ended strike across roughly 40 cities and 65 stores in the United States, with more than 1,000 baristas walking out. The strike began on Starbucks Corporation’s Red Cup Day — one of the chain’s busiest annual promotional events.
In a statement posted on X, the union said it has been nearly a year since Starbucks offered any proposal to conclude negotiations on remaining union contracts. “The company knows where we stand: we need fair wages, better scheduling, and an end to union-busting,” the statement read.
Calling the action a major escalation, the union said it is prepared to make this “the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history,” and urged customers not to buy from the coffee chain while the strike continues.
The strike marks the latest flashpoint in a prolonged dispute between Starbucks and its unionised workforce, which has accused the company of stalling negotiations and retaliating against organising efforts. Starbucks has denied allegations of union-busting in previous statements.
