Affected more than 40 cities! Starbucks employees launch an indefinite strike!

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Since 2018, Starbucks has held a "Red Cup Day" promotion every year during the Thanksgiving holiday. Customers who go to any Starbucks store in North America will receive a free reusable red coffee cup.

However, as this year's "Red Cup Day" approaches, Starbucks is facing a massive "Red Cup Rebellion." According to the Associated Press, Reuters, BBC and other media, on Thursday, November 13, more than 1000 unionized Starbucks employees in the United States went on strike, demanding that the coffee giant make concessions in contract negotiations.

Starbucks Workers United, which represents baristas, said the strike will affect at least 40 cities across the United States, including New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle, where Starbucks is headquartered. More than 65 stores have been closed due to lack of staff.

Unions have threatened to escalate the strike and more stores join if Starbucks fails to reach a fair union contract and resolve allegations of unfair labor practices, making it "the largest and longest-lasting strike in the company's history." In addition, the union urged consumers in an Instagram post not to shop at any Starbucks stores "today and in the future."

The strike was aimed at putting pressure on the coffee chain, with unions accusing Starbucks of refusing to negotiate fairly, resulting in the failure to secure a collective bargaining agreement since employees began voting to unionize in late 2021. The union's core demands include fighting for improved working hours, higher wages, and resolving hundreds of unfair labor practices allegations against Starbucks, such as firing unionized baristas.

Although the two sides entered the mediation stage in February this year, active consultations have not yet begun after negotiations broke down at the end of last year. In April, hundreds of barista representatives voted to reject Starbucks 'economic proposal. Unions say the plan guarantees annual pay increases of at least 2 percent, no pay raises and no changes to economic benefits such as health care.

Starbucks, on the other hand, denies wrongdoing and counters that the union was the party that pulled out of the negotiating table. A Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement to the media,"The employee union, which represents only 4% of our partners, has chosen to withdraw from the negotiating table. We have invited them many times to return. If they are ready, we are always willing to negotiate. We believe that both parties can reach a reasonable agreement quickly."

The company's chief partner recently expressed similar views, saying that the company has been cooperating sincerely with the union for several months and has reached more than 30 provisional agreements on the terms of the complete contract.

Starbucks emphasized that they provide "the best quality jobs in retail," with average salary and benefits for hourly workers totaling more than $30 per hour. But unions say in about 33 states, the starting salary for baristas is $15.25 an hour, with an average of less than 20 hours per week.

Regarding the indefinite strike launched by the union, Starbucks said it has more than 18,000 stores in the United States and Canada. The strike has limited impact on it, insisting that "the vast majority" of stores will still be open as usual.

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