A major labor dispute has erupted at Starbucks, with unionized employees launching a widespread strike and threatening to expand it into the company’s largest-ever work stoppage. The action, which began in mid-November, involves over a thousand workers across more than forty U.S. cities.
The conflict centers on stalled negotiations for the coffee giant’s first-ever union contract. Talks between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, the union representing over 11,000 baristas at more than 550 locations, have reportedly broken down over economic issues. The union has also filed numerous unfair labor practice charges with federal authorities, accusing the company of failing to bargain in good faith.
Workers initiated the open-ended strike on a key promotional day for the company, signaling a direct challenge during the critical holiday sales period. Union members are urging customers to boycott stores, a call that has been echoed by several prominent elected officials in cities like New York and Seattle.
“We know our value to this company,” said one striking barista from Pittsburgh. “Our success is tied to Starbucks’s success, but that has to include fair treatment for the people who actually run the stores. We’re taking this step because we have no other choice to secure a contract and our rights.”
In response, Starbucks has stated that the vast majority of its locations remain open and characterized the strike as a disruptive tactic by a union representing a small fraction of its workforce. A company spokesperson emphasized that Starbucks already offers what it calls “the best job in retail,” with average hourly pay and benefits exceeding thirty dollars, and expressed a desire to return to negotiations.
The strike unfolds against a backdrop of business challenges for the chain, which has reported only modest sales growth recently amid rising costs and shifting consumer demand. The company has also seen significant turnover in its executive leadership over the past few years.
The union has warned that if no progress is made at the bargaining table, it will escalate the “No Contract, No Coffee” campaign by adding more stores to the strike, potentially creating prolonged disruption during one of the most profitable seasons of the year.