Thousands of unionized Starbucks workers to strike Thursday over contract deal

4 days ago 7

Thousands of unionized Starbucks workers program to locomotion disconnected the occupation Thursday aft workers authorized a onslaught "with nary acceptable extremity date," aft the institution failed to scope a declaration agreement with the union.

Starbucks Workers United is calling the onslaught the "red cupful rebellion," since the onslaught coincides with the java chain's yearly Red Cup Day promotion. Starbucks Workers United, which represents much than 9,500 baristas crossed 550 Starbucks cafes, is asking for amended pay, accrued staffing and a solution of labour disputes.

Up to 12,000 of the company's 200,000 retail workers could locomotion disconnected the occupation opening astatine 4 p.m. section time. Starbucks said it doesn't expect a disruption astatine the "vast majority" of its stores.

The open-ended onslaught volition commencement with much than 65 stores successful implicit 40 cities crossed the country, the national said.

"If Starbucks keeps stonewalling a just declaration and refusing to extremity union-busting, they'll spot their concern grind to a halt," said Michelle Eisen, Starbucks Workers United spokesperson and 15-year barista. "No contract, nary java is much than a tagline—it's a pledge to interrupt Starbucks operations and profits until a just national declaration and an extremity to unfair labour practices are won."

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol told "CBS Mornings" past period that the institution has "the champion benefits" and "the champion wages" successful the industry.

"What their requests to day person been, has been unreasonable," Niccol said. "We're consenting to, you know, negociate and person 'em travel backmost to the array and find a solution."

The national announced past week that its members voted to authorize a onslaught aft nary declaration agreement, with thousands weighing successful and an overwhelming bulk — 92% — voting successful favor, according to the labour group.

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson antecedently told CBS News the institution is disappointed that the national voted to authorize a onslaught alternatively of coming to the bargaining table. "When they're acceptable to travel back, we're acceptable to talk," she said successful a connection past month.

Contract talks betwixt Starbucks and Workers United began successful April 2024 but fell isolated successful December. The national says it has secured 33 tentative agreements from Starbucks, but maintains that the immense bulk are noneconomic proposals.

The onslaught marks the union's 3rd nationalist enactment stoppage successful the past year. Workers United past protested successful May implicit Starbucks' caller formal code, and thousands besides walked disconnected the occupation successful December 2024.

CBS News has reached retired to Starbucks.

Edited by Melissa Gaffney