A Starbucks barista strike has expanded to include 5,000 workers across more than 300 stores in 45 states, coinciding with the company's busy holiday period. Organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Starbucks Workers United, the strike aims to address stalled contract negotiations and allegations of unfair labor practices. Workers are demanding a 64% increase in the company's minimum hourly wage, with a 77% wage increase over the life of a three-year contract. Starbucks responded by noting that 98% of its 10,000 U.S. stores continued to operate, with only around 170 stores affected by the strike.
Despite the expanding strike, Starbucks has remained firm, with executive Sara Kelly calling the union's demands "not sustainable" and touting the overall benefits package for workers. The company has also emphasized its willingness to continue negotiations after the union walked away from bargaining. CEO Brian Niccol, who took over in August, has pledged to negotiate in good faith, but his tenure at Chipotle was marked by labor disputes. The strike has put additional pressure on Starbucks, which has seen a decline in stock price despite initial investor optimism following Niccol's appointment.
