Starbucks baristas in the US are starting a strike, according to the union

More than 11,000 Starbucks baristas in the US have begun a five-day strike over a dispute over pay and working conditions.

The strikes began Friday at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, Starbucks Workers United said. The union added that strike action would expand every day and reach hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve unless an agreement was reached.

This follows the union’s demand that the coffee shop giant increase wages and staff and introduce better working hours for its workers.

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

The strike represents Workers United’s largest action since the organization began negotiating a contract with the company more than two years ago.

The union has gained new members since the first store in the U.S. voted to join in 2021. She now represents more than 500 stores in 45 US states.

“It is a last resort, but Starbucks has broken its promise to thousands of baristas and left us with no other choice,” Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Starbucks barista from Texas, said in a union statement to the BBC.

Workers United has flagged what it believes is an unfair pay gap between its members and senior Starbucks bosses. including CEO Brian Niccol.

His annual base salary is $1.6 million. He could also receive a performance-based bonus of up to $7.2 million and up to $23 million per year in Starbucks stock.

Starbucks has previously defended the plan, saying that Mr. Niccol is “one of the most effective leaders in our industry” and that his compensation is “directly tied to the company’s performance and the collective success of all of our stakeholders.”

The company, which has more than 16,000 stores in the US, also highlighted that it offers an average wage of over $18 (£14.40) per hour as well as “best-in-class benefits”.

“Together, they are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week,” it said.

The strike comes at a difficult time for the company.

The world’s largest coffee shop chain reported declining sales as it grappled with a backlash against price hikes and boycotts sparked by the Israel-Gaza war.

It replaced and appointed former chief Laxman Narasimhan in August Mr. Niccol is supposed to bring about the turnaround.

Under Mr. Narasimham, the company had toned down its once combative approach toward the union and promised earlier this year to work toward an agreement.

The Starbucks strike happens like this One of the most powerful unions in the US is protesting against Amazonwith the aim of putting pressure on the technology giant, which sends packages in the last holiday season.

The Teamsters union said Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities across the U.S. walked off their jobs Thursday after the company refused to negotiate a labor contract with the union.