Starbucks to Boost US Hourly Wages in 2024, Excluding Unionized Stores Amid Record Sales

Wage increases vary based on years of service, union calls move "illegal"; no price increases for customers are expected to offset wage hikes.

Starbucks has announced a plan to raise hourly wages for US employees with increases ranging from 3% to 5% based on years of service, set to begin on January 1, 2024.
The wage raise will not apply to unionized Starbucks stores, a move that the Workers United union has criticized as 'illegal'. The union plans to file unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
In addition to the pay raise, Starbucks is reducing the waiting period before hourly employees can accrue vacation days from one year to 90 days. This benefit is also not available to unionized stores.
The Seattle-based coffee chain also announced a new North American barista championship open to employees in the U.S. and Canada, excluding those at unionized stores since it involves prize money and travel.
Starbucks has faced legal trouble with the NLRB before. In September 2020, a judge ruled that the company had acted illegally when it raised pay only for non-union workers. Starbucks is currently appealing that ruling.