10,000 baristas at Starbucks will strike at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle for five days starting today.
Starbucks Workers United, which represents 10,000 employees across 525 Starbucks stores in the U.S, said the strike is: “to win fair raises, benefits and staffing, protest unfair labor practices, and resolve outstanding litigation with Starbucks.” They claim walkouts could escalate to “hundreds of stores” nationwide by Christmas Eve.
Failed negotiations between Starbucks and the union began in April. “We refuse to accept zero immediate investment in baristas’ wages and no resolution of the hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practices,” Lynne Fox, President of Starbucks Workers United stated.
Sylvia Baldwin, barista and Starbucks United’s bargaining delegate said in a press release, “Starbucks can’t get back on track as a company until it finalizes a fair contract that invests in its workforce. Right now, I’m making $16.50 an hour. Meanwhile, Brian Niccol’s compensation package is worth $57,000 an hour. The company just announced I’m only getting a 2.5% raise next year, $0.40 an hour, which is hardly anything. It’s one Starbucks drink per week. Starbucks needs to invest in the baristas who make Starbucks run.”
Starbucks workers are the latest in a series of labor actions gaining momentum across service industries, following significant concessions won by workers in manufacturing.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
