Starbucks Workers Set to Strike as Holidays Approach

Over 10,000 Starbucks baristas are represented by a workers’ union which said Friday morning that its members will go on strike for the next five days at locations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle amid the hectic holiday season. Unresolved legal concerns and prolonged contract negotiations are to blame. Starbucks is accused by the union of failing to uphold labor agreements and deal with unfair work practices.

If Starbucks and the union do not come to common ground to a collective bargaining deal then the walkouts are predicted to intensify everyday and perhaps reach hundreds of locations by Christmas Eve as per the United Workers which represents workers at 525 Starbucks locations nationwide. Hundreds of Starbucks shops around the country may be impacted by the planned strike with protests beginning in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle.

In February, Starbucks and the union developed a “framework” to direct labor negotiations and organizing. Based on the framework, the company and Workers United started negotiating in April which could help settle a number of outstanding legal issues.

The workers union said in a statement which came late on Thursday stated, “Since the February commitment, the company repeatedly pledged publicly that it intended to reach contracts by the end of the year but it has yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal.”

The union is trying to settle a number of legal disputes involving allegations of unfair labor practices. Starbucks, on the other hand insists that it provides all inclusive benefits and that negotiations should carry on. The stalemate reveals the escalating conflicts over corporate interests and worker compensation.

“Nobody wants to strike. It’s a last resort, but Starbucks has broken its promise to thousands of baristas and left us with no choice,” a union press release quoted Texas barista Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi as saying.

Starbucks has not been actively involved for a number of months as per the union which vowed to “show the company the consequences.”