Chicago Starbucks workers strike at some stores over failed negotiations

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

The stores affected were not immediately available, but according to the X feed of 48th Ward Neighbors for Justice, an Edgewater store at North Clark Street and North Ridge Avenue is among the ones where workers are striking. And protesters were in front of a Bucktown store at West Armitage and North Hoyne avenues.

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

The strikes also were 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 has failed to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor 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 Starbucks' new Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who started in September, could make more than $100 million in his first year on the job. But the company recently proposed an economic package with no new wage increases for unionized baristas now and a 1.5% increase in future years, the union said.

“Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners," said Lynne Fox, president of Workers United.

Seattle-based Starbucks said Workers United prematurely ended a bargaining session this week. Starbucks has nearly 10,000 company-owned stores in the U.S.

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

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

The strikes aren't the first during Starbucks' 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 usually gives away thousands of reusable cups. Hundreds of workers also went on strike in June 2023 to protest after the union said Starbucks banned Pride displays at some stores.

The union and the company struck a different tone early this year, when they returned to the bargaining table and pledged to reach an agreement. Starbucks said it has held nine bargaining sessions with the union since April, and has reached more than 30 agreements with the union.

But the two sides now appear to be at an impasse.