There is a national strike of Starbucks baristas, and even though it might seem like it has already ended, it is growing at a pretty fast pace. There are already more than 30 stores in 25 different cities that have decided to stop (as confirmed by Starbucks Workers United), and it has also coincided with the public call for a boycott from the newly elected mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani.
Just as you read it, a mayor asking people not to buy at Starbucks… and while his team appeared at the picket lines in Manhattan, in new stores, and joined the protest.
“Making New York affordable means ending unfair labor practices and a living wage for our workers.” Mamdani.
The situation is getting quite heated, but we are going to explain what is happening for this to occur.
Starbucks on strike
The strike started last week, right in the middle of Red Cup Day, one of the strongest days for Starbucks, when they give away the famous reusable Christmas cups and cause a frenzy. Well, from there everything changed. In just a few days, more than 30 stores have joined the strike, at least 1,000 workers across the country are on stoppage, and cities like Cleveland, Memphis or Springfield have daily picket lines so they cannot offer service.
What are they asking for?
Dignified wages. Wages that allow them to live, fair schedules, real guarantees against retaliation the company might take and apparently, the coffee company has spent many years dragging out these negotiations. So much that their workers cannot wait any longer.
Zohran Mamdani’s boycott
As we told you at the beginning, Mamdani, the mayor of New York who has a clear progressive tendency, has joined this boycott. He asked all New Yorkers to stop buying at Starbucks until there are fair and dignified contracts…
Front line of the picket
Lina Khan, his transition co chair, and the future deputy mayor Dean Fuleihan were at the picket lines in the Financial District supporting the workers. And this is very unusual because never before had an incoming administration publicly aligned itself against a powerful multinational.
“Starbucks knows what we need”
Starbucks Workers United (the workers’ union) has said they will not return to work until Starbucks presents new proposals.
Since 2021, more than 640 stores have started unionization processes or shown support, representing more than 14,000 employees. The movement is huge.
“We are the best employer in the sector”
The company insists that the strike has a minimal impact and that their operations continue to function. A spokesperson said Starbucks is ready to negotiate again “whenever the union wants”, and they also defend their labor model saying their programs are the best in the sector.
How could we explain to them that the fact that their contracts are the best in the sector does not mean they are dignified for their workers…
From Buffalo to the rest of the country
Everything started in Buffalo in 2021, a small group of workers decided it was time to organize and they lit the first spark. Now they accumulate more than 450 days of accumulated strike and more than 200 stores have stopped working at some point.
Even so, Starbucks wants to clean up its image by reminding that only 5% of its stores are officially unionized… mainly because licensed locations (airports, supermarkets, university campuses…) are not part of this process. That limits the overall reach, but not the strength of the movement.
Strike and boycott
Since 2021 fighting with a single goal, dignified working conditions. Now, everything seems much more explosive thanks to the support of the new mayor. Everything is now in Starbucks’ hands, will they be able to resolve the conflict right before the holiday season begins?