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Starbucks baristas in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle will strike Friday, escalating pressure during the holiday season. Unionized workers warn walkouts could grow nationwide by Christmas Eve unless stalled contract talks with the company are resolved.
Strikes Begin in Key Cities Amid Holiday Rush
According to Reuters, during the busy holiday season, the workers' union that represents more than 10,000 Starbucks baristas has announced that its members will go on strike at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle on Friday morning.
Workers United, which represents employees at 525 Starbucks cafes in the United States, has stated that walkouts are expected to increase on a daily basis, with the possibility of reaching hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve.
This is the case until Starbucks and the union are able to negotiate a collective bargaining deal.
In February, the union and Starbucks collaborated to develop a "framework" that will serve as a guide for organizing and collective bargaining.
Based on the framework, negotiations between the corporation and Workers United began in April, Investing.com shares. These negotiations have the potential to assist in resolving a number of legal problems that are currently outstanding.
Union Criticizes Starbucks Over Stalled Economic Proposals
"Since the February commitment, the company repeatedly pledged publicly that it intended to reach contracts by the end of the year, but it has yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal," the union stated in a statement that was released late on Thursday.
A request for comment was sent to Starbucks, but the company did not immediately respond.
Under the leadership of the newly appointed top CEO, Brian Niccol, the coffee chain is undertaking a turnaround.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol Pushes for Coffeehouse Revival
Niccol's goal is to revive the "coffee house culture" by improving the cafes, increasing the amount of comfortable seating, reducing the amount of time customers have to wait to be served to less than four minutes, and simplifying the menu.
