New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is showing his support for striking Starbucks baristas by urging people not to patronize the chain. He stated that he would not be buying Starbucks while workers remain on strike, which has been organized amid stalled contract negotiations. This action comes after the company announced restructuring and the closure of hundreds of stores, leading to the union organizing its fourth strike since 2023. This move by Mamdani, a known ally of labor, is an early indication of how he may use his position as mayor.
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Over 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers at 65 U.S. stores initiated a strike on Red Cup Day due to stalled labor negotiations, aiming to disrupt the company’s busiest day. The union, Starbucks Workers United, cited demands for better pay, hours, and improved staffing, alongside addressing alleged unfair labor practices. Starbucks maintains its commitment to offering competitive wages and benefits and claims the union walked away from negotiations. The open-ended strike, with potential for expansion, seeks to leverage the visibility of retail labor disputes to raise public awareness of workers’ concerns.
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AP News reports that Starbucks union members have voted to strike beginning November 13th, Red Cup Day, unless a contract agreement is finalized. The union, Starbucks Workers United, plans to have workers strike in at least 25 cities. The union has yet to finalize a labor contract with the company after over two years of negotiations, while Starbucks expresses disappointment at the prospect of a strike and claims it already offers competitive pay and benefits. The union has accused Starbucks of not negotiating in good faith and has pushed back against claims that their proposals are not serious.
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Over 1,000 Starbucks baristas across 75 stores are striking, protesting a new dress code mandating solid black shirts and specific bottoms. The union, Starbucks Workers United, argues the code, which restricts previously permitted attire, should be subject to collective bargaining and filed a complaint with the NLRB. Starbucks claims the dress code enhances brand image and customer experience, while the union contends it’s a misguided decision ignoring employee concerns and impacting service times. Despite Starbucks’ assertion of limited impact, the strike highlights ongoing labor disputes and stalled contract negotiations between the company and the union.
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Over 11,000 Starbucks baristas, represented by Workers United, will begin a five-day strike on Friday, impacting hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve unless a deal is reached. The union demands improved wages, staffing levels, and scheduling, citing a significant pay disparity between baristas and CEO Brian Niccol’s substantial compensation. Starbucks counters with claims of above-average pay and benefits, averaging over $30 per hour for 20-hour-per-week employees. The strike coincides with other labor actions, including a Teamsters union protest against Amazon, highlighting broader concerns about worker compensation and conditions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker