Starbucks strike expands on Christmas Eve
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A Starbucks employee (left) strikes alongside supporters outside of a closed Starbuck store in New York City on Monday. Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images
The Starbucks baristas strike is spreading to more cities, leaving dozens of stores shut on Christmas Eve — the last day of the five-day walkout.
Why it matters: The escalating strikes are taking place during one of the coffee giant's busiest periods.
- Starbucks Workers United, the union representing baristas, said some 300 stores closed as 5,000 workers went on strike across 43 states Tuesday.
- Starbucks disputes the union's closure figure, saying only 170 stores shut on Tuesday, with 60 closed on Monday.
State of play: The strike that began in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle last Friday had expanded to cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Los Angeles by Monday.
- Starbucks Workers United said Atlanta and Buffalo will on Tuesday be among the cities joining the biggest-ever strike against the company, per the Washington Post.
Driving the news: Contract negotiations between the two sides that have been ongoing since April broke down after the union said Starbucks' offers were not economically viable, per Axios' Emily Peck.
- The union said its workers are striking to "win fair raises, benefits and staffing, protest unfair labor practices, and resolve outstanding litigation with Starbucks."
- Starbucks has said Workers United's proposals calling for "an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract" are "not sustainable."
What they're saying: Sara Kelly, executive vice president and chief partner officer, said in a statement that while Workers United will seek to cause more stores to close, the work stoppages would have "a very limited impact to our overall operations."
- That's because 97-99% of stores would continue to operate, according to Kelly, who said Starbucks "offers a competitive average pay of over $18 per hour, and best-in-class benefits" that include health care, free college tuition and paid family leave.
Zoom out: 535 of the 10,000 U.S. Starbucks stores have unionized since 2021.
- Representatives for the union did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment in the evening.
Flashback: Starbucks workers strike at 200 union stores on Red Cup Day
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional developments.
