On December 24, 2024, according to reports from Epoch Times, the union announced that the strike of Starbucks employees on Christmas Eve (December 24) will expand to more than 300 stores across the United States, making it the largest strike in the history of this chain coffee shop.
The “Starbucks Workers’ Union,” representing employees from 525 stores nationwide, stated that on Monday, over 60 stores had to close due to the strike, including locations in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle.
Starbucks employees began their strike last Friday, lasting for five days, with Christmas Eve being the final and largest day of the strike. The union expects over 5,000 employees to leave their positions on that day.
Negotiations between the union and Starbucks started in the spring of this year, but issues regarding wages, staffing, and working hours have remained unresolved, leading to a recent deadlock in talks.
Earlier this month, the union rejected Starbucks’ proposal, which guaranteed a 1.5% raise in the coming years but did not promise an immediate wage increase.
To protest the slow progress in negotiations, the union organized the strike. They criticized Starbucks for failing to fulfill its commitment made in February to reach an agreement before the year-end.
The strike comes during the busiest season for Starbucks throughout the year. The company stated in a release on Monday that 97% to 99% of Starbucks stores will continue operations and serve customers, with the strike’s impact on overall operations being “very limited.” Starbucks owns over 10,000 company-operated stores in the United States.
Starbucks mentioned, “We are prepared to continue negotiations when the union returns to the bargaining table.”
Starbucks stated that they have committed to providing unionized employees with an annual salary increase of 1.5% or higher. Additionally, if non-unionized employees receive a wage increase below this level, unionized employees will still receive a 1.5% raise.
Starbucks announced that the average hourly wage for a barista in their U.S. stores is $18. When factoring in various benefits – including healthcare, free university tuition, and paid family leave – Starbucks’ compensation package equates to an average value of $30 per hour for baristas working at least 20 hours per week.
However, employees believe they should receive more as Starbucks’ new Chairman and CEO, Brian Niccol, could potentially earn over a hundred million dollars in his first year in office.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Associated Press)