Strike Threat Looms Over Starbucks With Potential Walkouts Planned Across US

Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents thousands of Starbucks workers in the US, has announced a walkout on one of the coffee chain's busiest days of the year. This move comes amidst an ongoing dispute between Starbucks and the union, which began organizing workers in 2021. Despite this, the two sides have failed to reach an agreement on a contract. Approximately 200 Starbucks stores are expected to be affected by the work stoppage on November 16. Interestingly, this protest will coincide with Starbucks' "Red Cup" day, during which the company distributes reusable cups with holiday-themed designs. This is the second time that the union has scheduled a walkout to coincide with this event. In certain locations, the walkout is expected to last just a few hours, while in others, it may result in the closure of the store for the entire day. The strike aims to draw attention to Starbucks' refusal to fairly negotiate a contract, as well as to protest against work conditions, including inadequate staff levels on promotional days. Workers claim that they often feel overwhelmed due to understaffing, resulting in long wait times for customers. The union is demanding that Starbucks engage in good faith negotiations to address these concerns. Starbucks, which has more than 10,000 stores across the US, has stated that it does not anticipate any major disruptions due to the walkout. Despite this, the company hopes that the union will prioritize shared success and work towards negotiating union contracts for its members. It is worth noting that around 360 of Starbucks' US locations have already seen workers vote to join the union since 2021. However, the company has strongly opposed these efforts, allegedly delaying negotiations and taking actions such as firing employees and closing stores to impede the movement. Administrative law judges in the US have repeatedly found that Starbucks violated labour laws, although the company has consistently denied any wrongdoing. This union campaign at Starbucks has received significant attention and is believed to have inspired workers at other companies to take collective action.