Overview
- Starbucks Workers United began a multi-day strike authorization vote Friday that could permit an open-ended unfair-labor-practice strike.
- Roughly 70 rallies and pickets are scheduled in about 60 cities through Nov. 2 to mobilize support for the vote.
- The union’s contract priorities include improved staffing and hours, higher take-home pay, and resolving hundreds of unfair labor practice cases.
- Starbucks says the union represents a small share of its workforce, argues it is ready to negotiate, and cites average pay-plus-benefits of about $30 an hour and more than $500 million in staffing investments.
- Negotiations stalled after talks collapsed in December 2024, mediation ended this spring with delegates rejecting an April proposal, and shareholders including Trillium and New York City’s comptroller recently urged the board to resume talks.