Unionized Starbucks workers are threatening to expand a US strike against the world’s biggest coffee chain into “the largest and longest” in the company’s history – and urging customers to steer clear.Starbucks has said the vast majority of its cafes remain open, and expressed disappointment that Starbucks Workers United launched the strike.Negotiations over the ever first union contract for Starbucks workers in the US broke down in recent months.Both sides have blamed the other.Prominent politicians including Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor-elect, have backed the striking workers.

Since 13 November, more than 1,000 Starbucks workers have been on strike in more than 40 cities across the US.The open-ended unfair labor practice strike was launched on Starbucks’ “red cup day”, which typically hails the start of the lucrative holiday trading season at the coffee chain.Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, the union, have been bargaining over the chain’s first union contract.But these talks stalled over economic elements of the contract.Each side has blamed the other.

Starbucks Workers United has also filed dozens of unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board throughout its organizing campaign, including one in December, alleging that the chain had failed to bargain in good faith, and undermined the representative status of the union.“I want Starbucks to succeed.My livelihood depends on it,” said Dachi Spoltore, a striking barista from Pittsburgh.“I know that Starbucks’ success has to include and prioritize people like me who make the coffee, open the stores and keep the customers coming back.We’re proud of our work, but we’re tired of being treated like we’re disposable.

“That’s why we’re taking this major step.We’re confident and clear-eyed in what we need to win a contract and resolve the legal issues.We’re risking a lot: our jobs, our livelihoods, our economic security.This might be a game to Starbucks, but it isn’t a game for us.”Starbucks Workers United represents 11,000 baristas at more than 550 Starbucks stores.

Its organizing drive has become of the highest-profile unionization efforts in a generation in the US.The first Starbucks store voted to unionize, by 19 to 8, in Buffalo, New York, in December 2021, setting the stage for a wave of mobilization that swept hundreds more stores across the nation.Starbucks had actively fought unionization for decades, insisting its stores would operate best when executives at the company were able to work directly with its employees.During a US Senate committee hearing in March 2023, its longtime CEO Howard Schultz defended Starbucks’ response to the union organizing campaign and responded to allegations of union busting by saying: “These are allegations, and Starbucks has not broken the law.”Starbucks has blamed the union for the lack of progress in negotiations and claimed the strike hasn’t affected operations.

A spokesperson for Starbucks, Jaci Anderson, said: “Despite Workers United’s efforts to cause disruption, more than 99% of our coffeehouses remained open and our partners [employees] delivered the strongest Reusable Red Cup Day in company history building on the previous Thursday’s holiday launch which was the biggest sales day ever for the company,“We anticipate a bright holiday season and are eager to welcome customers to enjoy their favorite holiday beverage and sit and stay in one of our 17,000 locations across the US,”Anderson expressed disappointment “that Workers United, who only represents around 4% of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table”, adding: “When they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk,”Any contract “needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks already offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners”, she said,Starbucks is under pressure to turn its business around.

In October, the coffee chain issued a press release declaring that it had delivered sales growth for the first time in seven quarters.That growth was just 1%.A sharp rise in coffee prices and softening demand have hit the firm.Its shares have fallen 10% so far this year.It has also reshuffled its top ranks several times in recent years.

Schultz, who built Starbucks over several decades as CEO, abruptly returned to the role in 2022 after initially stepping down years earlier.He was succeeded by Laxman Narasimhan the following year, who was ousted after 16 months and replaced by Brian Niccol, former CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill.Niccol has pledged to revive the chain’s fortunes, unveiling job cuts and store closures as part of an internal plan dubbed “Back to Starbucks”.Starbucks Workers United claims most of the 65 stores hit by the action have been forced to close due to insufficient staffing.The action is taking place across more than 40 cities.

The union is threatening to escalate the campaign, dubbed “no contract, no coffee”, by adding more stores if they don’t receive new proposals and make progress with Starbucks in contract negotiations.About 92% of Starbucks Workers United members voted to authorize an open-ended unfair labor practices strike, according to the union.“Union baristas are prepared to make this the largest, and longest strike in company history during the critical holiday season,” it said in a November memo.Ahead of the strike, a wave of lawmakers – 26 US senators and 82 congressional representatives – signed letters to Niccol, the current Starbucks CEO, demanding that the company reach a contract with the union.No Republicans signed either letter.

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani also weighed in.“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,” he wrote on social media.“While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us.”Katie Wilson, mayor-elect of Seattle, where Starbucks is based, also made a similar call.“I am not buying Starbucks and you should not either,” she said at a Starbucks Workers United rally, shortly after winning the close mayoral race.

“Baristas are the heart and soul of this company, and they deserve better than empty promises and corporate union busting,“This is your home town, and mine,Seattle is making some changes right now,And I urge you to do the right thing,”