Starbucks workers strike in Seattle, LA, and Chicago as negotiations stall

Unionized Starbucks workers in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago hit the picket lines Friday. It’s the start of a five-day strike aimed at disrupting Starbucks during the busy days leading up to Christmas, when many customers stop by for seasonal drinks.

Starbucks Workers United is hoping the strike will pressure the company to offer wage increases and resolve unfair labor practice charges from the National Labor Relations Board.

“I want to see fired workers get reinstated, some of whom who've been waiting for over two years,” said Mari Cosgrove, on the picket line outside of Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill. “I want to see Starbucks take us seriously and come to the table with a respectful bargaining proposal.”

The union claims Starbucks is not negotiating in good faith or offering meaningful raises to employees. Starbucks counters by accusing the union of demanding wage hikes that are “not sustainable.”

“Workers United delegates prematurely ended our bargaining session this week,” said Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee in a statement. “It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date."

Gee noted Starbucks and the union have reached agreements on a number of topics over dozens of bargaining sessions.

Negotiations broke down this week because of disputes over contract proposals each side is offering. Starbucks said previously it was committed to reaching a framework agreement to govern store-by-store negotiations by the end of the year.

Workers United says the strike will ultimately spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve. Starbucks says the strike has not had a significant impact on store operations.

“We're here at the roastery,” said Catlin Caughlan, another barista at the Pike Place Starbucks. “We're going to be out here for 24 hours straight for the next five days stopping deliveries and spreading awareness and raising money for our relief fund. All I hope is that it sends a message to Starbucks that they can't keep treating us like this.”

Joshua McNichols contributed to this story.