Union Starbucks workers launch strikes on company’s ‘Red Cup Day’

Overview

Thousands of Starbucks workers, represented by Starbucks Workers United, are striking across 65 stores nationwide on the company’s annual “Red Cup Day.”

The union says Starbucks has not addressed core bargaining issues—especially staffing levels and pay—despite nine months of negotiations in 2024 and the company’s claim that tentative agreements exist on 33 contract topics.

The union argues Starbucks rejected the union’s economic proposals, leaving workers with insufficient improvements and unresolved unfair labor practice concerns.

Main Complaints

Misleading compensation figures

A key complaint is that Starbucks’s reported compensation numbers are misleading. The union disputes the company’s characterization of about “$30 per hour” in hourly pay and benefits, arguing that benefits are only available under staffing/scheduling thresholds most workers do not meet.

The union claims many workers are scheduled below eligibility levels, averaging about 19 hours per week, which they say results in lower effective wages. They also contend that some workers rely on public assistance such as SNAP and Medicaid.

Disparity in earnings

The union also criticizes company leadership for high earnings while workers struggle financially.

Strategy and Leverage

A union spokesperson says strikes typically shut stores down quickly due to staffing shortages, and she rejects Starbucks’s assertion that disruption is “minimal.” She argues Starbucks’s reporting downplays the timing and impact.

The spokesperson adds that workers are prepared to escalate, potentially making this the longest strike in company history, if Starbucks returns to bargaining only without meaningful solutions.

She also highlights planned support from allies who will not cross picket lines or spend at Starbucks during the holiday season, describing it as significant economic pressure.

Presenter/Contributor

• Michelle Eisen — Spokesperson, Starbucks Workers United