Two unionized Starbucks locations in Omaha, Nebraska, have closed as part of a nationwide strike by the company’s employees. The strike, which began on Friday in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, has spread to other major cities, including Iowa. More than 500 Starbucks stores across the country have joined the union since its inception in 2021.
The strike is due to the company’s failure to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor agreement this year. Employees are also seeking resolution on outstanding legal issues. According to Gadget Sansom, a unionized worker, “Striking gives us a voice and we don’t really have one yet with the company even as a union.”
The strike has drawn support from outside the coffee shop industry, including former U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn, who was spotted on the picket line at an Omaha Starbucks location. Osborn believes corporate leaders should take pay cuts to make up for low wages, rather than cutting those of baristas.
Starbucks has released a statement expressing respect for workers’ right to strike and appreciating customer support during the dispute.
Source: https://www.wowt.com/2024/12/24/omahas-two-unionized-starbucks-locations-close-workers-join-strike