A prominent union representing over 11,000 Starbucks baristas across the United States has announced a five-day strike, commencing Friday morning, as tensions rise over wages and working conditions.
Workers United has confirmed that the strike will impact major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, with plans for the walkout to escalate daily, potentially affecting hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve if an agreement is not reached.
The union is demanding increased wages, improved staffing levels, and better scheduling practices for its workforce. In response, a Starbucks spokesperson expressed readiness to negotiate, stating, “We are committed to reaching agreements and need the union to return to the table.”
Starbucks maintained that it provides an average pay exceeding $18 an hour, alongside what it describes as “best-in-class benefits.” The company asserts that for baristas working at least 20 hours a week, the combined compensation can equate to an average of $30 per hour.
Workers United, representing employees from over 500 locations across 45 states, claims the strike is a necessary step after what they see as unmet promises from the company. Barista Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi from Texas described the decision as a last resort, expressing concerns over pay disparities between front-line workers and senior executives.
The union also pointed to the significant pay differences between its members and Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, whose annual base salary stands at $1.6 million. Additionally, he could earn a performance-related bonus of up to $7.2 million and potentially receive $23 million in company shares annually.
In defense of Niccol’s compensation, Starbucks characterized him as “one of the most effective leaders in our industry,” noting that his pay is closely linked to the company’s performance and overall stakeholder success. Niccol took over the role in September after his predecessor stepped down.
As Starbucks faces challenges with declining sales amid backlash over price hikes and boycotts related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, this strike occurs in parallel with a major protest by another influential labor union. The Teamsters union recently organized a walkout by Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities nationwide after unsuccessful negotiations regarding labor contracts, aiming to increase pressure on the retail giant during the busy holiday season.
