Overview
- Starbucks Workers United said 92% of voting members approved a strike that could begin Nov. 13, with walkouts planned in more than 25 U.S. cities and additional stores likely if no progress is made.
- The union seeks a first contract with improved staffing hours, higher take‑home pay, and resolution of unfair labor practice cases after talks collapsed late last year and mediation produced no deal.
- Starbucks said it is disappointed by the strike plan, reiterated it is ready to return to bargaining, and emphasized average pay-plus-benefits of more than $30 an hour while noting the union represents about 4% of U.S. partners at roughly 550 stores.
- The sides dispute wage proposals and scope, with Starbucks citing a 65% immediate pay increase and 77% over three years plus added premiums and operational changes, claims the union says mischaracterize separate ideas.
- Background tensions include reported closures of 59 unionized stores during a restructuring, prior holiday-period strikes, and numerous NLRB complaints alleging anti-union conduct, as Starbucks says most locations would remain open during any strike.