Starbucks Workers Begin Nationwide Strike on Peak Holiday Sales Day
Seattle, WA – November 13, 2025 – Unionized Starbucks workers across the United States initiated a coordinated strike today, November 13, 2025, coinciding with the company’s annual “Red Cup Day,” one of the busiest and most profitable days of the year for the coffee giant. The work stoppage, involving thousands of employees at over 100 stores, is a direct response to what Workers United alleges are unfair labour practices and Starbucks’ refusal to bargain in good faith over a first contract.
The strike aims to disrupt sales during the critical holiday season and pressure Starbucks to address demands for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions. Workers are seeking guarantees regarding scheduling predictability,sufficient staffing levels,and protection against retaliation for union activity. This action represents a significant escalation in the ongoing labor dispute that began in late 2021, when employees at a store in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize – a first for the company in the U.S. The outcome of this strike could set a precedent for future negotiations and influence the broader labor movement within the service industry.
Workers United claims Starbucks has engaged in a pattern of anti-union tactics, including store closures, disciplinary actions against union leaders, and the withholding of benefits from unionized employees. “Starbucks is intentionally understaffing stores, creating chaotic and unsafe working conditions, and retaliating against workers who speak out,” stated a Workers United representative. “This strike is about more than just wages; it’s about dignity and respect on the job.”
The company maintains it respects its employees’ right to organize and bargain collectively, but asserts it has acted lawfully and in good faith throughout the negotiation process. Starbucks spokesperson, in a statement released this morning, said the company remains committed to reaching mutually beneficial agreements with its unionized workers. The strike is expected to continue indefinitely until a satisfactory agreement is reached.
