Starbucks Workers Authorize 98% Strike Amid Ongoing Contract Negotiations
Starbucks Workers United announced on Tuesday that 98% of union baristas have voted to authorize a strike as they seek a contract with the coffee giant. The move comes despite hundreds of hours of negotiations between the two sides, with still unresolved unfair labor practice cases and no comprehensive package proposed by Starbucks to address barista pay and benefits.
Bargaining delegates are set to return to the negotiating table on Tuesday for a final session of the year, aiming to agree on a “foundational framework” for a potential contract. Despite this progress, the union has expressed frustration with the pace and content of the negotiations.
In a statement, Starbucks disputed the union’s characterization, saying that the company remains committed to reaching a final framework agreement and calling the strike authorization “disappointing.” The company claims to have made significant progress in recent sessions, with over 30 agreements reached on various topics, including economic issues important to baristas.
This strike authorization comes after a tumultuous period in which Starbucks resisted unionization efforts for nearly two years, sparking backlash from consumers and lawmakers. The company’s new CEO, Brian Niccol, has committed to bargaining in good faith, but the union remains skeptical.
The union’s decision to authorize a strike is also influenced by the company’s recent announcement to double its paid parental leave, but with a smaller annual pay hike next year, following a sales slump at its U.S. locations. Over 500 company-owned Starbucks cafes have unionized under Workers United since the first elections in 2020.
