Louisville coffee shop is participating in the nationwide Starbucks strike on Christmas Eve

Starbucks workers in Louisville joined the nationwide “Pre-Christmas Strike” on Tuesday.

The strike is an unfair labor practice strike stemming from charges brought against the coffee company by the Starbucks Workers United union.

After workers at the Highlands Starbucks, 972 Baxter Ave., walked out at 1 p.m., the company now faces more than 300 stores on strike in what the union calls the “largest strike ever” at the Seattle-based coffee giant designated.

“We want to signal to them that they can come back to the table with a better offer,” said Tamara Bell, shift manager at Starbucks and the union’s collective bargaining representative. “And I think it’s best to hit this company where it hurts – in their pockets.”

Other metro unions, including Teamsters Local 89, were present and demonstrated alongside Starbucks workers. “We always support whenever we see a picket line that we’re trying to support,” said Sirena Peters, a member of Local 89.

Additional Starbucks locations in Louisville, including 12911 Factory Lane, 4942 US-42 and 3103 S. Third St., are expected to join the strike.

Tuesday’s strike that hit Louisville is part of five days of continually escalating strikes that began Dec. 20. The Starbucks Workers United union claims the strike was necessary after alleging that Starbucks went back on its public promises to secure new contracts by the end of the year.

“I think there’s nothing really at stake for us right now,” Bell said. “We just want the contract they promised us at the end of the year. That’s all we want.”

Why are Starbucks workers striking?

According to the Starbucks Workers United website, the union is calling for a base wage of $20 per hour for all baristas, a base wage of $25.40 per hour for supervisors, 5% annual raises and cost-of-living adjustments. The union is also demanding additional benefits related to retirement, health care and paid sick leave for all employees, among other benefits, USA TODAY previously reported.

Starbucks spokesman Phil Gee told USA TODAY on Friday that Starbucks Workers United ended negotiations between the two companies “early” earlier this week.

Gee told USA TODAY it was “disappointing” that the union didn’t return to the table, noting that the two companies have reached “over 30 meaningful agreements on hundreds of issues.”

“Workers United’s proposals call for an immediate 64% increase in the minimum wage for hourly associates and 77% over the life of a three-year contract,” Gee told USA TODAY. “That’s not sustainable.”

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @oliviamevans_.

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