Starbucks workers in Chicago and other U.S. cities launched a five-day strike on Friday, protesting stalled contract negotiations with the company. The strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, affected at least 10 locations nationwide, including several in Chicago. One confirmed closed location was the Edgewater store at 5964 N. Ridge Ave., where picketing workers displayed signs demanding better wages and benefits. Another closed store was located in Bucktown, at Armitage and Hoyne, and a Starbucks in Evanston on Main Street also confirmed closure. While six other unionized Chicago stores remained open as of midday Friday, according to Starbucks’ website, the action highlights the ongoing tension between the union and the company.
As of April, 23 Starbucks stores in Illinois had unionized, including nine in Chicago and Evanston, according to More Perfect Union. However, the unionization effort has faced setbacks, with four stores, including the Chicago Reserve Roastery, voting against unionization. The August 2023 vote against unionization at the Reserve Roastery represented a significant blow to organizers.
Picketing workers emphasized their struggle for fair wages, citing paltry 2-3% raises in the last year compared to the CEO’s $10 million bonus. They argue that current wages are insufficient to keep up with inflation, and that the company, capable of significant payouts, should invest in its workers.
Starbucks Workers United stated that Starbucks failed to uphold a February commitment to reach a labor agreement this year, and that unresolved legal issues, including unfair labor practice charges, further complicate the situation. The union criticized the company’s recent economic proposal, which included no immediate wage increases for unionized baristas and a meager 1.5% increase in future years, contrasting this with the potential $100 million salary for the new CEO.
Starbucks, however, countered that the strike had minimal impact on operations and that they remain ready to negotiate. The company highlighted its existing benefits package, claiming it equates to $30 per hour for baristas working at least 20 hours a week. This statement, however, did little to quell worker frustration over the stalled negotiations and what they see as unfair labor practices. The strikes, expected to continue in Los Angeles and Seattle and potentially spread nationwide by Christmas Eve, mark a continuation of labor disputes throughout the year, following similar actions on Red Cup Day and in June protesting the alleged banning of Pride displays. Despite a period of seemingly constructive negotiations earlier this year, the two sides now appear to be at an impasse.