Starbucks workers in Chicago and other U.S. cities launched a five-day strike on Friday, protesting stalled contract negotiations with the company. At least 10 Starbucks locations nationwide were closed as a result, including at least three in the Chicago area: one in Edgewater, one in Bucktown, and one in Evanston. While other unionized Chicago-area stores remained open for online orders, the striking workers picketed outside their closed locations, carrying signs demanding better wages and working conditions. Approximately a dozen workers demonstrated outside the Edgewater store.
As of April, 23 Starbucks stores in Illinois had unionized, including nine in Chicago and Evanston. However, four stores, including the world’s largest branch, the Chicago Reserve Roastery, have voted against unionization. The union, Starbucks Workers United, claims Starbucks has reneged on a February commitment to reach a labor agreement this year and is failing to address numerous unfair labor practice charges. The union is particularly critical of the company’s recent economic proposal, which includes no immediate wage increases for unionized baristas and only a 1.5% increase in future years, especially given the significant compensation received by Starbucks’ new CEO.
Starbucks, however, maintains that the impact on store operations has been minimal and states that the overwhelming majority of its stores remain open. The company asserts that it already offers a compensation package valued at $30 per hour for baristas working at least 20 hours a week, inclusive of benefits like college tuition and paid family leave. They also claim that Workers United prematurely ended a recent bargaining session and urge them to return to the negotiating table. They stated that they have held nine bargaining sessions since April and reached over 30 agreements with the union.
Despite previous instances of cooperation and a pledge to reach an agreement earlier this year, the two sides are now at an impasse. The strikers highlight the disparity between executive compensation and the wages of baristas, arguing that current raises are insufficient to keep pace with inflation. Their concerns extend beyond wages, encompassing broader issues of fair treatment and job security, emphasizing the stress and financial hardship faced by workers, particularly during the busy holiday season. These strikes follow similar actions in November 2023 and June 2023, demonstrating the ongoing tensions between Starbucks and its unionized employees.