SEATTLE -- Unionized Starbucks workers in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago were set to strike Friday afternoon, as negotiations for a new contract remain at an impasse.
The Workers United union, representing 10,000 baristas, has announced plans to escalate strike actions if a deal is not reached, potentially affecting stores nationwide by Christmas Eve.
The union claims Starbucks is financially capable of increasing wages and improving working conditions, citing the compensation package for new CEO Brian Niccol, which could exceed $100 million. Workers are demanding higher pay, more staffing, and better scheduling.
"I deserve to have a living wage. I deserve to not have all these unfair labor practices for my fellow workers," barista Linsay Burgner told KOMO News.
"I've had to make those choices of, like, do I pay for groceries or do I get my medication?" added barista Mari Cosgrove.
"Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract. This is not sustainable," Starbucks said in a statement Friday.
Starbucks, however, argues that the union's demands are unrealistic. The company stated that negotiations have been ongoing for over 10 months, with some progress made before union representatives walked away from the bargaining table this week.
It is disappointing that the union is considering a strike rather than focusing on what have been extremely productive negotiations. Since April we've scheduled and attended more than eight multi-day bargaining sessions where we've reached thirty meaningful agreements on dozens of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.
We remain committed to working together and committed to reaching a final framework agreement. This is our goal. If the delegates want to serve the partners they represent, they need to continue the work of negotiating an agreement.
Starbucks offers competitive pay and best in class benefits that together are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas. Our industry leading benefits are available to partners who work as little as 20 hours per week. They include health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants. No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package.
Starbucks emphasized its commitment to reaching a final agreement and highlighted its competitive pay and benefits package, which it claims is unmatched in the retail industry.
Meanwhile, the coffee giant said the strikes haven't hurt the company's operations.
"There has been no significant impact to our store operations. We are aware of disruption at a small handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our US stores remain open and serving customers as normal," said Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee.
Labor Analyst Thomas Fellows explained how Seattle's boosted cost of living over the past decade and Starbucks' high profits have played into these strikes.
"The housing market in Seattle has absolutely exploded. It's gone up 218% and wages have not nearly gone up as much," Fellows stated. "The average Starbucks wage is $18 an hour, but $18 an hour doesn't go very far anymore."
"What you're seeing today is not the end. We are going to keep escalating and fighting like Hell," Cosgrove told KOMO News. "There's going to be more coming."