The union representing over 10,000 baristas announced late on Saturday that Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more U.S. cities, including New York.
The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added locations in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not specify in what New Jersey city the walkout was occurring.
Starbucks said the disruptions from the strike have no significant impact on its operations because only a small handful of U.S. stores have been impacted.
“Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract. This is not sustainable,” the coffee chain said.
The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Ohio; Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company’s Christmas sales.
The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.
Talks between Starbucks and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.
Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach “hundreds of stores” by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.
Contract Negotiations Underway
Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.
However, Starbucks Workers United, the union representing employees at 535 company-owned U.S. stores since 2021, claims the company has failed to fulfil its February commitment to finalise a labour agreement this year.
The NLRB has similarly addressed or settled hundreds of complaints against Amazon.
The strikes, which began Friday in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, were triggered after Starbucks proposed a compensation package offering no immediate wage increases for unionised baristas and only a 1.5% raise in the coming years.
The company also highlighted its current pay and benefits package, which it claims amounts to $30 per hour for baristas working at least 20 hours weekly.
This is the third significant walkout by Starbucks workers, following two similar actions last year.
(With inputs from Reuters)
