Baristas at select Starbucks locations are planning to strike on Christmas Eve, starting with cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle this Friday.
Strikes Expected to Grow
The strikes are expected to grow in scale each day, spreading to more cities, as workers push for higher wages. The union, Starbucks Workers United, expressed frustration in a post on X, accusing the company of “backtracking on our promised path forward.”
Continue Exploring: Nitori Enters India: Japanese Furniture Giant Opens First Store in Mumbai
The strike could lead to longer wait times for customers seeking their favorite holiday drinks and merchandise in the days leading up to Christmas, which typically sees high demand as many people shop for last-minute gifts or enjoy a break from work and school.
Relationship Between Starbucks and Union Sours
Relations between Starbucks and the union have become tense once again after a brief period of cooperation earlier this year. In February, both sides had agreed on a “foundational framework” to work toward collective bargaining agreements for individual stores. Since then, they have held over nine bargaining sessions, according to the company.
Continue Exploring: ClearDekho’s Bold Expansion Plans: 50 New Stores and Revenue Growth on the Horizon
This week, Starbucks and the union held their final scheduled bargaining session of 2024. However, before the meeting, Starbucks Workers United voted to authorize a strike if the company did not offer a comprehensive proposal addressing pay and benefits. During the session, Starbucks reportedly offered no immediate pay increase, instead guaranteeing annual raises of just 1.5%. In response, Starbucks stated that the union had prematurely ended the bargaining session, leaving the talks unresolved.
