Starbucks baristas ramp up strike in 34 US cities

Business Dec 11, 2025

Starbucks baristas are stepping up their strike, now reaching 34 cities and involving over 3,800 workers at more than 180 stores.
The walkout, which kicked off on Red Cup Day last month, is the company's longest-running strike so far as workers push for their first-ever labor contract.

What baristas want—and where talks stand

Baristas, represented by Starbucks Workers United, are calling for better pay, improved staffing, and predictable schedules.
While Starbucks says the strike affects less than 1% of its US locations and it's open to negotiations, the union accuses the company of stalling talks after workers rejected a contract offer from Starbucks earlier this year.
Even though hundreds of stores have voted to unionize since 2021, an actual contract still hasn't happened.