Read our editorial on the significance of strikes here, and our coverage of the ongoing Starbucks strike here.
On December 18, union stores in 28 cities joined the ongoing Starbucks strike organized by Starbucks Workers United, raising the total number of striking baristas to over 4,500. On December 23, 19 stores filed for union elections.
The strike—dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion,” a reference to Red Cup Day, Starbucks’ most profitable day of the year and the day when the strike was initiated—will continue indefinitely until Starbucks puts forward a contract with better pay, staffing, scheduling, and the resolution of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges, including ones related to firing workers for organizing.
Starbucks Workers United reports that Starbucks has over 700 unresolved ULP charges against it and has committed “more labor law violations than any employer in modern history,” considering there have been over 1,000 ULPs filed over the course of this labor struggle.
Meanwhile, CEO Brian Niccol made $96 million for 4 months of work in 2024, making it the largest pay gap between the top executive and median worker of any company in the S&P 500.
Starbucks Corporation has seen stagnation with its stock price presently sitting at a -2% change over the last six weeks, showing the economic impact of the strike. From Quarter 3 to Quarter 4 of this year, Starbucks’ global net revenue share of their North America branches dropped from 74% to 72%.
Monopoly media has waged a demoralization campaign against the strike, with The Seattle Times publishing an article titled: “Majority of Starbucks’ striking baristas are returning to work,” citing a statement from Starbucks executives that alluded to an official union “return-to-work notice,” something that they have not provided any proof of and is contradicted by union press releases.
The Seattle Times cited another statement by Starbucks executives that cited “security issues” during the strike, such as “glue in store locks, chains around coffeehouse doors, chains around distribution center gates and blockages of delivery trucks, employee vehicles and vendor vehicles.” Starbucks has only expressed concern about security in relation to its profits, while ignoring the safety risk of overworking and understaffing its many locations.
Image: Starbucks baristas on strike. Credit: Starbucks Workers United.
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