Chicago Starbucks workers go on strike at some stores over failed negotiations

Workers at Starbucks stores began a five-day strike in three U.S. cities, including Chicago, on Friday to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company.

The affected stores were not immediately available, but according to 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice’s X-Feed, an Edgewater store at North Clark Street and North Ridge Avenue is one of those where workers are on strike. And protesters stood outside a Bucktown store at West Armitage and North Hoyne avenues.

As of April, 23 stores in Illinois had organized. According to the pro-worker group More Perfect Union, nine organizations were organized in Chicago. But four have rejected the move to unionize, including the world’s largest outlet, Chicago Reserve Roastery, 646 N. Michigan Ave. Workers there voted against unionization last year, a major setback for organizers.

The strikes were also expected in Los Angeles and Seattle and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve.

Starbucks Workers United, the union that has organized workers at 535 company-owned U.S. stores since 2021, said Starbucks had failed to meet its commitment made in February to reach a collective bargaining agreement this year. The union also wants the company to resolve outstanding legal issues, including hundreds of unfair labor practice charges that workers have filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

The union noted that Brian Niccol, Starbucks’ new chairman and CEO who started in September, could make more than $100 million in his first year on the job. However, the company recently proposed a stimulus package that would not provide new wage increases for unionized baristas and would provide for a 1.5% increase in the coming years, the union said.

“Union baristas know their worth and will not accept a proposal that does not treat them as true partners,” said Lynne Fox, president of Workers United.

Seattle-based Starbucks said Workers United ended a round of negotiations early this week. Starbucks has nearly 10,000 company-owned stores in the United States

“We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the bargaining table,” Starbucks said in a statement.

Starbucks said it already offers $30 an hour in salaries and benefits — including free college tuition and paid family leave — to baristas who work at least 20 hours per week.

The strikes are not the first at Starbucks during the busy holiday season. In November 2023, thousands of workers at more than 200 stores walked out on Red Cup Day, a day when the company typically gives away thousands of reusable cups. Hundreds of workers also went on strike in June 2023 to protest after the union said Starbucks had banned Pride displays in some stores.

The union and company struck a different tone earlier this year when they returned to the negotiating table and committed to reaching an agreement. Starbucks said it has held nine negotiations with the union since April and has reached more than 30 agreements with the union.

But now both sides seem to be at an impasse.