Starbucks workers launch strike before Christmas

Starbucks Workers United launched a strike on Friday in Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles, with plans to expand nationwide by Christmas Eve. 

The union, representing 12,000 workers, is pushing for a fair contract after months of stalled negotiations. 

The union, representing more than 11,000 workers across 528 stores (per NLRB), accuses Starbucks of breaking promises and failing to offer viable economic proposals. At the same time, the company argues that the union’s wage demands are too high. 

Despite some store closures, Starbucks claims that the majority of its US locations will remain open.

The coffee giant has committed to a 1.5% pay raise in future years for unionized workers but will not give any immediate wage increase, the union said in a statement.

The union demanded a higher raise, pointing out that in his first year, the new CEO, Brian Niccol, would make $100 million in total compensation this year.

The union insists it will continue escalating the strike until Starbucks honors a framework agreement made in February, which includes better pay and benefits for workers, marking the union’s largest strike since its organizing campaign began three years ago.