Starbucks baristas vote to authorize strike ahead of Red Cup Day
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Starbucks union members have went on strike multiple times over the years. Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
Unionized Starbucks baristas voted overwhelmingly to authorize an open-ended strike just weeks before the coffee giant's holiday rush — escalating a long-running labor standoff.
Why it matters: Starbucks Workers United represents baristas at about 650 of the company's roughly 18,000 U.S. locations — a small share of its stores, but one that's been highly active and visible in recent years.
- The strike vote comes a week before Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day on Nov. 13, one of its busiest and most profitable days of the year.
Driving the news: The union said 92% of voting baristas backed authorizing an open-ended strike after months of stalled contract talks.
- Workers accuse Starbucks of refusing to offer new proposals addressing pay, staffing, scheduling and the resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges.
- Union leaders say baristas are prepared to turn Red Cup Day into a "Red Cup Rebellion" if Starbucks doesn't make progress on a deal by Nov. 13.
The other side: Starbucks emphasized that workers have authorized a strike but are not currently on strike.
- "We are disappointed that Workers United, who only represents around 4% of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table," Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said in a statement to Axios. "When they're ready to come back, we're ready to talk."
- The company noted that fewer than 1% of stores were affected during past strike actions.
The big picture: The strike vote is the latest in a series of labor flare-ups at Starbucks since the first stores unionized in 2021.
- Baristas at union stores have staged multiple walkouts around key promotional days — including Red Cup Day in 2023 and Christmas Eve 2024 — as contract talks with the company have repeatedly stalled.
Flashback: Under CEO Brian Niccol — who joined from Chipotle in September 2024 — Starbucks has been making a series of changes to reverse a decline in foot traffic and sales as part of what it calls the "Back to Starbucks" plan.
- Starbucks announced in September it would close stores and lay off 900 people in a $1 billion restructuring plan.
What's next: Starbucks releases its holiday menu Thursday — setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown as the company kicks off its busiest stretch of the year.
Editor's note: This story was update with comment from Starbucks.
