On the 36th day of their strike, Starbucks workers gathered outside the company’s headquarters on Thursday, brandishing a cardboard cutout of Chief Executive Brian Niccol adorned with devil horns. This protest symbolized the deepening grievances of the workers, who have been walking out since November 13—a striking period that has become the longest in Starbucks history. What began as a strike involving 65 stores across 40 cities has now expanded to over 180 stores nationwide.
The union representing the striking workers, Workers United, claims that Starbucks has not returned to the bargaining table with new proposals addressing key issues such as wages, scheduling, and guaranteed hours. These demands are critical as employees seek to secure their first contract. “I think it’s disappointing that Starbucks is choosing to wait us out rather than honor their commitments to their workers for a fair contract,” said Brenna Nendel, a shift supervisor and strike organizer at the Elliot Avenue Starbucks in Seattle.
Support for the striking workers has grown, notably from incoming Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who attended the strike on its first day. Local political pressure on Starbucks is intensifying, with over 180 elected officials from more than 25 states signing a letter backing the strikers. The letter condemns what they describe as renewed union-busting efforts that threaten the workers’ constitutional rights to organize.
The strike began during Starbucks’ Red Cup Day promotion, a peak sales period for the company. In the Seattle area, two stores and one location in nearby Redmond closed at the strike’s inception, with more joining the walkout as the dispute continues. A union representative did not provide an exact count, but reports indicate that participation has grown significantly in the region.
Adding to the tension, Workers United has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Starbucks has engaged in union-busting activities. There are currently over 130 open cases against Starbucks in Seattle alone, and 170 nationwide, amplifying the legal challenges facing the company.
Starbucks has countered the union’s claims, asserting that average pay and benefits for employees reach $30 an hour and that fewer than 1% of its 17,000 U.S. locations have been affected by the strike. The company also stated that it has invested over $500 million in staffing improvements, a claim that workers contest, arguing that they are overworked and underpaid.
The strike has escalated beyond traditional picketing, with support from the Teamsters union enabling workers to block delivery trucks at distribution centers, including one in Pennsylvania that services the entire Northeast. An organizer mentioned that this action delayed product deliveries to some stores by a week.
