SEATTLE — The Starbucks Workers United union continues to mount strike picket lines Monday to Friday at three stores in this area and in cities across the country. The strike began at 120 stores Nov. 13, hitting the company in 85 cities on one of their biggest promotional days of the year, and more since. Some 2,500 workers are participating overall. Strikers told the Militant the key issues are more hours — 20 hours a week is the minimum needed to qualify for health care and other benefits — as well as higher wages.
Since 2021, the union has organized some 550 stores, but the company has resisted negotiating a contract. There are 17,000 Starbucks stores in the U.S.
Starbucks disputes the number of stores on strike, and claims it offers a generous wage and benefit package.
In a recent settlement announced in New York City Dec. 1, Starbucks agreed to pay over $35 million to more than 15,000 workers there over arbitrary switches in their schedules and cutting their hours from July 2021 to July 2024. This boosted strikers across the country.
“Anyone who works in retail knows that this is the highest volume time of year. Starbucks capitalizes on this period of sales through various holiday promotions, yet it’s the worst time to be a barista here,” Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks Workers UNITED spokesperson told Northwest Labor Press Dec. 4. “No matter how busy it gets, workers know that [corporate] isn’t going to offer them more staffing or higher pay if we don’t do something about it.”
Strikers at the University District location in Seattle told the Militant they’re receiving support from other unions and nearby businesses, which donate food, hot drinks and water. At several locations strikers have organized strike kitchens, making hot meals for themselves and their families. Some Teamster-represented drivers are refusing to cross picket lines to make deliveries.
Starbucks Workers United is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, which makes its union hall available to organize the strike. SWU is soliciting nonperishable items for their food kitchens around the country.
“We are getting support from other states and from around the world, with messages of support,” University District striker Marisol Espinoza, a shift supervisor who has worked there since 2018, told the Militant Dec. 4. “They say we’re with you. It has a big impact.”
“The company says it’s a small percentage of stores on strike, and they’re perfectly fine,” she said. “They’re encouraging us to get back to the bargaining table, which they’ve been avoiding for quite some time. They didn’t want us to go on strike.”
“We’re going to stay out as long as it takes,” she added. “It’s nice seeing all the local support. People ask how they can help? Don’t buy Starbucks while we’re on strike, anywhere. Come stop by the picket line.”
For picket locations across the country, go to https://www.nocontractnocoffee.org.