Starbucks workers launch nationwide strike

More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks baristas across more than 40 U.S. cities launched an indefinite strike, beginning at 65 stores and timed to coincide with Red Cup Day, a peak sales event that draws heavy customer traffic. Organized by Starbucks Workers United, which represents employees at roughly 550 U.S. stores, the action aims to press the company for a collective bargaining agreement addressing higher pay, more stable hours and improved staffing levels. The union, representing about 9,500 workers, warned the walkout could become the largest and longest in Starbucks history.

Strike activity was reported in cities including Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Austin and Portland, with some locations already closed for the day. Despite the union’s mobilization, Starbucks said the immediate impact remained limited, with under 1% of its more than 17,000 U.S. stores experiencing disruption.

Workers said the strike targets persistent issues they say are endemic at Starbucks: low take-home pay, irregular scheduling, and alleged unfair labor practices including firings of pro-union employees. Organizers pointed to executive pay as emblematic of the gap they seek to close—citing CEO Brian Niccol’s large compensation—while demanding immediate wage increases, better hours and resolution of unfair-practice complaints. Baristas described the action as a fight for dignity and stability and framed withdrawal of labor as leverage to show their role in running the company.

The dispute follows months of negotiations and earlier strike activity. Talks between the union and Starbucks stretched for about eight months before breaking off last December; workers staged strikes over the subsequent holiday period. In April, union members rejected a Starbucks offer guaranteeing annual raises of at least 2%, saying it failed to improve core economic benefits like healthcare or provide an immediate pay uplift. The union has filed more than 1,000 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and last week authorized a strike if no contract were finalized by the November 13 deadline.

Starbucks says it pays an average wage of $19 an hour and offers benefits such as healthcare, parental leave and tuition assistance to employees who work at least 20 hours weekly. The union counters that starting wages in about 33 states are $15.25 an hour and that many baristas average under 20 hours per week, leaving them financially insecure despite the company’s stated benefits.