This browser does not support the Video element.
Starbucks baristas begin strike in three cities, including LA
Starbucks workers in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle plan to strike starting Friday.
LOS ANGELES - Starbucks workers in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle walked off the job Friday, starting a 5-day strike.
Starbucks union baristas say the company backtracked on the path forward they agreed to with workers and their union over the future of organizing and collective bargaining.
The strike is happening in three of Starbucks’ top priority markets and will last till Christmas Eve.
According to the union, Starbucks Workers United, Starbucks and the union announced a path forward in February, but since then, the union says Starbucks proposed an economic package with no new wage increase for union baristas and a guarantee of only 1.5% in future years. They also say since the February agreement, the company committed to resolving legal issues, yet hundreds of unfair labor practice charges remain outstanding.
"Nobody wants to strike. It’s a last resort, but Starbucks has broken its promise to thousands of baristas and left us with no choice," said barista and bargaining delegate Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi.
Workers United is looking to increase the minimum wage of hourly workers by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Burbank Starbucks workers walk off job
Employees at a Burbank Starbucks walked off the job Friday, striking with hundreds of other union employees.
"Since the February commitment, 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," the worker's union said.
Starbucks released the following statement, "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."
"There has been no significant impact to our store operations. We are aware of disruption at a small handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our US stores remain open and serving customers as normal," Phil Gee, a spokesperson for Starbucks said.
The walkout closed the Burbank location at Alameda Avenue and Shelton Street.