SEATTLE, Wash. — Tensions are brewing at Seattle’s coffee giant.
Workers at Starbucks stores across the U.S. plan to go on a five-day strike to protest a standstill in contract negotiations with the company.
The strikes are scheduled to begin Friday at stores in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and could spread to hundreds of locations by Christmas Eve.
The union representing workers accuses the company of backtracking on the path forward they agreed to in February.
“The company has 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,” a news release states.
Starbucks Workers United represents over 11,000 baristas across 500 stores in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
Starbucks sent KIRO 7 the following statement regarding the union’s decision to strike:
“Workers United delegates prematurely ended our bargaining session this week. It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date. Since April we’ve held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days. We’ve reached over thirty (30) meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.
We are focused on enhancing the partner (employee) experience, with over $3 billion invested in the last three years. Starbucks offers a competitive average pay of over $18 per hour, and best-in-class benefits. Taken together they are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week. Benefits include health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants. No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package.
We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table. "
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