Labor dispute at Starbucks: Strikes during the Christmas season

The labor dispute among Starbucks employees reaches a new level of escalation. The Workers United union, representing more than 10,000 baristas of the coffee giant, announced strikes in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. In the middle of the busy Christmas season, employees will walk out on Friday morning. More than 525 Starbucks stores nationwide are organized by the union. The strikes could expand daily, reaching numerous other locations by Christmas Eve—unless Starbucks and the union finally agree on a contract. In February, both parties created a "framework" to guide negotiations and organization. The current talks, which began in April, are based on this foundation and also aim to resolve numerous ongoing legal disputes. According to a statement from the union on Thursday evening, a serious economic offer from Starbucks is still lacking. So far, the company has made its promises publicly, the union says, but without delivering concrete results. The company, currently undergoing transformation under the new leadership of Brian Niccol, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Niccol has set out to restore the "coffeehouse culture" by redesigning stores, enhancing guest comfort, and reducing wait times. Additionally, the offerings are to be streamlined to better meet customer needs.