If you want to grab your favorite holiday drink while doing some last-minute gift shopping, you might want to call ahead. Starbucks union is currently on a five-day strike, extending through Christmas Eve.
The strike, started by Starbucks Workers United, began on Friday, with walkouts happening in Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles. Since then, the strikes spread to nine states, with locations in Ohio, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, New York and Colorado also joining by shutting down stores. The union told CNN the strike could spread to hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve.
What the union seeks
The union went on strike after “Starbucks failed to bring a viable economic policy to the bargaining table or resolve hundreds of unfair labor charges" per the union. The union represents 525 stores and 10,000 employees nationwide.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
On X, the union stated, “Since February, Starbucks has repeatedly pledged publicly that they intended to reach contracts by the end of the year — but they’ve yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal.” The goal of the union is to continue these escalating strikes, resulting in more closed stores and lost revenue, at one of the busiest times of the year for Starbucks.
The baseline, according to the union, is for baristas to earn $20 per hour, while shift supervisors make $25.40. On top of this, they want a 5% annual raise and cost of living adjustments. They also want all workers to be enrolled in the employer-sponsored 401(k) plan.
Another issue addressed is consistent scheduling. The union said often baristas work inconsistent hours that might fluctuate week-to-week, making it difficult to budget monthly income. The union demands that Starbucks provide a fairer process for consistent scheduling.
How Starbucks handles it
Starbucks responded to the strikes, claiming that union delegates backed out of bargaining talks. A spokesman told NBC News, “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, and that isn’t sustainable.
Announcing its fourth-quarter results in October, Starbucks fell short of their revenue mark. The coffee giant reported net revenue fell by 3.1% to $9.1 billion, which was short of the $9.4 billion mark anticipated by CNBC.
The two sides plan to meet for the final time on Christmas Eve. So far, over 50 stores have shut their doors during the strike, in busy locations like Boston, Brooklyn, Denver, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus and Portland.
Will the Starbucks strike impact you?
Chances are, the impact on you is minimal at this time since Starbucks has tens of thousands of stores nationwide. Still, if you plan to grab a drink or any gifts, it might be wise to call ahead just in case your stores are one of the ones impacted.
Currently, here are some cities with closures:
- Columbus
- Portland, Oregon
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Seattle
- Denver
- Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia
- St. Louis
- Dallas
- Long Island
You can also use this map of store closures, courtesy of Newsweek.
Related Content
-
How AI Can Be Used in InvestingIt can't predict the future, but when used carefully, AI can be used in investing with stock picking, portfolio optimization and market analysis.
-
Dow, S&P 500 Extend Win Streaks to 8Strong earnings results for Magnificent 7 stocks Microsoft and Meta fueled upside in the equities market.
-
Amazon’s Prime Day Faces Tariff Troubles: What Shoppers Need to KnowAmazon Prime Day 2025 is happening this July, but new tariffs and supply chain issues could affect deals and availability. Here’s what shoppers need to know before they load their carts.
-
Should You Give up a Car in Retirement?If you own two cars, shedding one might be easier than you think. The freedom from rising vehicle expenses can bring relief to retirees.
-
Baby on the Way? Tariffs Could Raise Prices on Must-Have Infant GearUpcoming tariffs on baby items like car seats and cribs could raise costs for families, but shopping smart can help you save.
-
You Can Get Better Yield with a Jumbo CD or Money Market AccountMaximize your savings with top-yielding jumbo accounts and high-interest savings options.
-
15 Estate Planning Terms You Need to KnowSometimes industry jargon can turn otherwise understandable concepts into stumbling blocks. Here are simplified explanations, definitions and uses for some estate planning tools.
-
May Fed Meeting: Live Updates and CommentaryThe May Fed meeting is a key economic event, with Wall Street looking to see what Fed Chair Powell & Co. will do with interest rates amid tariff uncertainty. The May Fed meeting is a key economic event, with Wall Street looking to see what Fed Chair Powell & Co. will do with interest rates amid tariff uncertainty.
-
16 Strategies to Save Money on Prescription DrugsMany Medicare recipients are benefiting from changes that make prescriptions more affordable. But you can still make other moves to keep your costs in check.
-
Does Your State Make it Easier to Save Money?The state you live in can influence how well you're able to save money. See which states make saving easier.
