STARBUCKS workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.
The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.
Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.
The union is striking in 10 cities, including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season, which may impact the company's Christmas sales.
Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.
Workers snub offer
Negotiations between the company and Workers United began in April, based on an established framework agreed upon in February, which could also help resolve numerous pending legal disputes.
The company said on Thursday it has held more than nine bargaining sessions with the union since April and reached more than 30 agreements on "hundreds of topics," including economic issues.
The Seattle-headquartered firm said it is ready to continue negotiations, claiming the union delegates prematurely ended the bargaining session this week.
The union, however, said in a Facebook post on Friday that Starbucks had yet to present a serious economic proposal with less than two weeks remaining until a year-end deadline.
The workers' group also snubbed an offer of no immediate wage hike and a guarantee of a 1.5 percent increase in future years.
"Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64 percent, and by 77 percent over the life of a three-year contract. This is not sustainable," Starbucks said on Friday.
In response to Starbucks' statement on the proposals, Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks barista and bargaining delegate, said, "Starbucks' characterization of our proposals is misleading, and they know it. We are ready to finalize a framework that includes new investments in baristas in the first year of contracts."
Separately, the baristas' union said on Friday that it filed a new labor practice charge against the coffee house, alleging Starbucks "refused to bargain and engaged in bad faith bargaining" over economic issues.
Hundreds of complaints have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing Starbucks of unlawful labor practices such as firing union supporters and closing stores during labor campaigns.
Starbucks has denied wrongdoing and said it respects the right of workers to choose whether to unionize.
Working on a turnaround
Last month, the NLRB said that Starbucks broke the law by telling workers at its flagship Seattle cafe that they would lose benefits if they joined a union.
"It's (the strike) taking place during one of the busiest times of the year for Starbucks, which could magnify its impact while bringing unwanted public scrutiny into the company's labor practices," Emarketer analyst Rachel Wolff said.
The coffee chain is working on a turnaround under its newly appointed top boss, Brian Niccol, who aims to restore "coffee house culture" by overhauling cafes and simplifying its menu, among other measures.
"Given how much Starbucks is already struggling to win over customers, it can ill afford any negative publicity — or impact to sales — that the strike could bring," Wolff said.
The Starbucks workers' strike comes in the same week as Amazon.com workers at seven US facilities walking off the job on Thursday during the holiday shopping rush.
There were 33 work stoppages in 2023, the most since 2000, though far lower than in past decades, data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed, opens new tab.
