Strikemas: Starbucks Workers Take to the Streets

They’re calling it Strikemas, the strike before Christmas.

Labor union Starbucks Workers United members are on the final day of a multi-day strike pulling baristas and other employees away from espresso machines and ovens in major cities across the U.S.

From the union’s Instagram:

[T]oday is the biggest ULP strike at Starbucks EVER! Starbucks Baristas at over THREE HUNDRED stores have walked off the job to demand Starbucks bargain a fair contract from coast-to-coast🔥

TURN UP TO ONE OF THESE ANCHOR PICKETS AND AND SUPPORT WORKERS ON STRIKE! ✊

We’re fighting for a living wage, fair scheduling, and accessible benefits at a time when Starbucks seems to prefer investing in CEO Brian Niccol’s $113 million compensation package. The company’s last economic proposal – NO immediate wage increases – is unacceptable. SBWU is demanding the company present us with a serious economic offer at the bargaining table!

📢Workers shouldn’t struggle to pay their bills while working for one of the biggest fast-food corporations in the world. If Starbucks wants to put their money where their mouth is, it’s time to invest in WORKERS the way they’re investing in rich CEOs. We demand Starbucks bargain a fair contract!

NPR has more on Strikemas:

The union says the strike is in response to Starbucks backtracking on its commitment to negotiate a “foundational framework” — for collective bargaining and resolving outstanding litigation on unfair labor practices charges — by the end of the year.

“Our unfair labor practice (ULP) strikes will begin Friday morning and escalate each day through Christmas Eve … unless Starbucks honors our commitment to work towards a foundational framework,” it said last week.

 

The strike began on December 20 in three cities: Los Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago.

It has expanded every day since, with the list of participating stores now including Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Seattle, and San Jose.

Starbucks Workers United represents workers at 525 stores across the country. As of the weekend, the strike action was active at 60 locations.

In response, Starbucks released a December 23 post on its website to remind that it has “over 10,000 company-operated stores.” The striking locations, even if their number grows to “hundreds” of stores, comprise only a relative handful.

Starbucks Executive Vice President and Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly wrote that while the company anticipated the strike would expand on Christmas Eve, management expects “a very limited impact to our overall operations.”

Kelly defended the corporation and the benefits it gives workers, including an average wage of $18 per hour and “free college tuition.” She said the union demands are unreasonable.

“Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64 percent, and by 77 percent over the life of a three-year contract,” she said. “These proposals are not sustainable, especially when the investments we continually make to our total benefits package are the hallmarks of what differentiates us as an employer – and, what makes us proud to work at Starbucks. ”

What can interested civilians in any city who support the Strikemas workers do to show solidarity?

SBWU says, “Don’t cross the picket line.” That means: Get your holiday brew elsewhere.

If you support the corporation, carry on.

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