“No Contract, No Coffee”: Thousands of Baristas Walk Out in Nationwide “Red Cup” Protest

The holiday season has come out with a bang of rebellion with the world witnessing a walkout stunt by thousands of baristas calling the episode the Red Cup Rebellion. Timed to coincide with one of the most active promotion days in the history of the coffee giant, the protest has seen the workers in more than 65 cities down their counters in order to protest against unfair labor practices. The No Contract, No Coffee movement underscores how severely employees are getting fed up with the frozen talks, chronic understaffing, and so-called union-busting measures. It is the first time in the history of the union that it has now almost 11,000 workers on board, with the intention of shaking the already very lucrative holiday sales quarter and making the management take back to the bargaining table.

Starbucks Workers United Escalates the Fight

At the heart of this movement is Starbucks Workers United, the labor group representing the striking employees. They state that in spite of the months spent on the dialogue, the corporation still does not respond to the fundamental requirements in terms of salary rise and stable working schedule. According to the union, the company denying it a first contract is oppressing the rights of the workforce. By targeting a high-traffic promotional event, Starbucks Workers United intends to send a clear economic message: the company’s success depends entirely on the people serving the coffee.

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Union Rebellion Gains Public Support

This Union Rebellion is not just about internal policies; it has garnered significant public solidarity. The customers are being encouraged to boycott the chain in the strike with many respecting picket lines and contributing to strike funds. The end result of this labor battle may also become a precedent in terms of unionization in service industries across the country as the standoff carries into 2013.

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