A strike by Starbucks workers has begun in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, with hundreds of stores expected to join the picket lines by Tuesday. The Workers United union, which represents around 500 company-owned stores across the US, called the strike after negotiations with the company failed to produce better wage gains.
The strike comes as the union seeks a base wage of at least $20 an hour for all baristas, although Starbucks currently offers a minimum wage floor of $15.25. The company has reached over two dozen tentative agreements on various issues, including health and safety, attendance policies, and paid parental leave, but union members say these concessions do not address the main issue.
The strike is expected to last around five days, with some stores already seeing significant disruptions. Union delegates have expressed disappointment with the company’s offer, saying it does not meet their demands. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has been criticized by union members for lacking understanding of the workers’ concerns and needs.
This latest strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing labor dispute between the two sides. The company had previously sought to establish a process for workers to unionize without opposition, but the union says this move was too little, too late.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/business/economy/starbucks-union-strike.html