Starbucks Baristas Expand Strike to Over 300 U.S. Stores, 5,000 Workers Join Five-Day Action on Christmas Eve

Dec 24, 2024, 09:00 AM

Starbucks baristas across the U.S. are expanding their strike to over 300 stores on Tuesday, with more than 5,000 workers expected to participate before the five-day work stoppage concludes on Christmas Eve. The strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, which represents employees at 525 stores nationwide, began on Friday in key markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, and has since spread to include cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The union reports that over 60 stores were closed due to the strike as of Monday, impacting locations in 12 major cities. The action stems from stalled negotiations with Starbucks over wages, staffing, and schedules, with the union rejecting a company proposal that offered no immediate wage increases and only a 1.5% increase in future years. Starbucks has stated that 97-99% of its over 10,000 U.S. stores remain open, expecting a very limited impact on operations.