Starbucks Workers Strike on Red Cup Day

Starbucks baristas walked off the job Thursday at about 65 stores across the U.S., strategically timing their strike for "Red Cup Day"—the coffee giant's annual holiday promotion designed to drive traffic and sales.

More than 1,000 workers participated in strikes scattered across California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and other states, according to Starbucks Workers United, the union representing employees.

Union members say Starbucks hasn't made new proposals on key issues like staffing levels and pay since workers rejected a company offer in April. They're also trying to resolve hundreds of allegations about illegal labor practices, including retaliation against union members.

"We're turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion," said Amos Hall, a barista in Pittsburgh. "Starbucks' refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action."

Starbucks Says Union Won't Negotiate

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson downplayed the strike's scale and blamed the union for refusing to bargain.

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," Anderson told ABC News. "When they're ready to come back, we're ready to talk.

Anderson added that "any agreement needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks already offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners."

She contested the union's version of stalled negotiations, saying the union brought an incomplete proposal to members for the failed April vote.

The Numbers Don't Match

Starbucks Workers United claims it represents more than 12,000 unionized baristas at over 600 stores. Starbucks gave ABC News lower numbers—9,500 members at about 550 locations.

Either way, it's a small fraction of Starbucks' total workforce. But striking on Red Cup Day maximizes visibility and disruption.

How We Got Here

In February 2024, Starbucks Workers United and Starbucks announced they'd work on a "foundational framework" to reach a collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations started in April 2024.

Within months, new CEO Brian Niccol took over, promising to rejuvenate performance after years of sluggish sales.

The company recently reported U.S. same-store sales over three months ending in September were flat—snapping a streak of six consecutive quarters of decline. Progress, technically, though "flat" isn't exactly thriving.

"The plan is working," Niccol said on an analyst call last month. "We have more work to do, we're building momentum."

Meanwhile, no contract. The average time before a new union signs its first contract is 409 days, according to a 2021 Bloomberg Law analysis. About 625 days have passed since Starbucks and the union announced their commitment to reaching an agreement.

Why Red Cup Day

Kate Bronfenbrenner, a labor relations professor at Cornell University, said Thursday's strike was designed to pressure Starbucks and jumpstart negotiations.

Starbucks workers are striking and engaging customer support to get Starbucks back to the table," Bronfenbrenner told ABC News. "They may also need to again mount a large campaign with investors and other stakeholders to convince Starbucks that reaching a first contract is in the company's best interest.

Red Cup Day is one of Starbucks' biggest promotional events of the year. Customers get free reusable red cups with holiday drink purchases. It drives huge traffic, creates long lines, and requires maximum staffing.

A perfect day for a strike if you want maximum impact and visibility.

The Broader Labor Fight

This strike is part of ongoing tensions between Starbucks and unionized workers. The company has faced hundreds of allegations about illegal labor practices, including claims they retaliated against union organizers.

Workers want better staffing, higher pay, and protections against what they describe as union busting. Starbucks maintains it already offers competitive wages and benefits, averaging over $30 an hour including benefits for hourly workers.

The gap between those positions hasn't closed since April when workers rejected the company's offer.

What Happens Next

Neither side shows signs of backing down. The union authorized the strike. Starbucks says it's ready to talk when the union returns to the table. Classic standoff.

Striking on Red Cup Day sends a message—workers can disrupt the company's most important promotional days if negotiations don't progress. Whether that pressure moves Starbucks toward a deal or hardens their position remains to be seen.

For customers who showed up Thursday expecting their holiday drinks and red cups, some locations operated with reduced staff or closed entirely. Others remained fully operational.

The strike affected about 65 stores out of thousands nationwide. Noticeable, but not devastating to overall operations. Still, the optics matter. Labor disputes during major promotional events draw media attention and potentially alienate customers who support worker rights.

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