The Starbucks Strike has expanded to three additional major cities—Boston, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; and Portland, Oregon—have joined a growing strike that is now in its third of five planned days of escalation ahead of Christmas.
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The strike began last Friday and has already shut down nearly 50 stores nationwide, according to a statement from Workers United, the union representing Starbucks employees.
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Union’s Grievances
“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,” said Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Texas-based barista and bargaining delegate.
Alhadjaboodi criticized the company for investing millions in top executive talent while failing to offer baristas a viable economic proposal or resolve claims of unfair labor practices.
Workers United accused Starbucks of refusing to bargain in good faith since negotiations began in February. The union cited stalled talks and unresolved unfair labor practices as the catalysts behind the strike, which is set to continue until Dec. 24—what it called the company’s busiest days of the year.
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Impact on Workers
Arloa Fluhr, a bargaining delegate from Illinois with 18 years of experience at Starbucks, shared her struggles in a statement. She said routine cuts to employee hours left her at risk of losing access to health care, including essential medications like her daughter’s insulin.
“The holiday season should be magical at Starbucks, but for too many of us, there’s a darker side to the peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes,” Fluhr said.
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Starbucks’ Response
In a statement released after the strike announcement, Starbucks claimed that Workers United had “prematurely ended” a bargaining session earlier in the week. The union, however, asserts that the coffee giant has failed to present a “serious economic proposal” during negotiations.
Nationwide Participation
The strike initially launched in Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and Seattle, Washington, home to Starbucks’ headquarters. It has since expanded to include stores in cities such as Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri.
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Workers United has unionized over 525 Starbucks locations across the United States and vows to continue its efforts.
“This is just the beginning,” said Alhadjaboodi. “We will do whatever it takes to get the company to honor the commitment it made to us in February.”
