The ongoing conflict between Starbucks and its baristas intensifies as Workers United announces a five-day strike beginning Friday to address pay inequalities and working conditions.
Starbucks Baristas Plan Five-Day Strike Over Pay and Conditions
Starbucks Baristas Plan Five-Day Strike Over Pay and Conditions
Union representing baristas announces escalating strike, demanding better wages and work schedules.
The union, representing over 11,000 Starbucks baristas across the United States, has declared plans for a five-day strike commencing on Friday morning. This action is a response to ongoing disputes regarding wages, staffing, and scheduling issues. Striking workers will initially gather in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, with the intention of expanding the strike to hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve unless a satisfactory settlement is reached with the corporate giant.
Workers United has expressed that their demands include higher wages and improved staffing protocols, as well as creating fairer schedules for employees. “We are prepared to keep negotiating to come to agreements. We need the union to come back to the table,” responded a Starbucks representative, defending their compensation rates. The coffee company asserts that baristas earn an average wage exceeding $18 per hour, alongside "best-in-class benefits" calculated at an average of $30 per hour for those working a minimum of 20 hours a week.
Amid these developments, the union disclosed that it represents baristas from over 500 stores across 45 states. Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Texas-based barista, communicated the urgency of the situation, stating, “It's a last resort, but Starbucks has broken its promise to thousands of baristas and left us with no choice.” Workers United further highlighted concerns regarding wage inequality, particularly drawing attention to the compensation of senior executives, including CEO Brian Niccol, who has a base salary of $1.6 million, potential performance-related bonuses reaching $7.2 million, and the opportunity to earn significant shares in the company.
Starbucks has previously defended its executive pay structures, asserting that Nicol’s compensation is linked directly to the company’s performance, underscoring that it reflects the success shared among all stakeholders. This wave of industrial action is being closely observed, especially as the coffee chain faces challenges from declining sales, which have been impacted by price hikes and notable customer boycotts related to political controversies, such as the recent Israel-Gaza conflict.
Workers United has expressed that their demands include higher wages and improved staffing protocols, as well as creating fairer schedules for employees. “We are prepared to keep negotiating to come to agreements. We need the union to come back to the table,” responded a Starbucks representative, defending their compensation rates. The coffee company asserts that baristas earn an average wage exceeding $18 per hour, alongside "best-in-class benefits" calculated at an average of $30 per hour for those working a minimum of 20 hours a week.
Amid these developments, the union disclosed that it represents baristas from over 500 stores across 45 states. Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Texas-based barista, communicated the urgency of the situation, stating, “It's a last resort, but Starbucks has broken its promise to thousands of baristas and left us with no choice.” Workers United further highlighted concerns regarding wage inequality, particularly drawing attention to the compensation of senior executives, including CEO Brian Niccol, who has a base salary of $1.6 million, potential performance-related bonuses reaching $7.2 million, and the opportunity to earn significant shares in the company.
Starbucks has previously defended its executive pay structures, asserting that Nicol’s compensation is linked directly to the company’s performance, underscoring that it reflects the success shared among all stakeholders. This wave of industrial action is being closely observed, especially as the coffee chain faces challenges from declining sales, which have been impacted by price hikes and notable customer boycotts related to political controversies, such as the recent Israel-Gaza conflict.
