A strike by baristas at Starbucks locations across the country expanded to stores in 45 states Tuesday, with an Alpharetta location closing for the day because virtually all its nonmanagerial employees were picketing outside.
The Haynes Bridge Road Starbucks was one of about 300 stores with pickets by about 5,000 workers, union officials said. Tuesday was the final day of a five-day strike by Starbucks workers across the country.
“I do love working here,” said Cory Stepping, 31, one of several dozen employees from various stores with signs and placards outside the store. “We’re on a first-name basis with the people who come in. But gas prices are up, food prices are up and our pay should go up.”
Starting pay for area baristas varies. Workers said that the Alpharetta store starts baristas typically at $15.25 an hour.
Sara Kelly, an executive vice president at Seattle-based Starbucks, said in a statement posted on the company’s website that company pay is competitive, averaging more than $18 an hour. She said the union’s actions affected just a fraction of the company’s nearly 200,000 workers and 32,000 stores.
“We expect a very limited impact to our overall operations,” Kelly said.
Since workers at a Buffalo, New York, Starbucks voted to unionize in mid-2021, Starbucks Workers United has won votes at about 500 stores authorizing the union to represent 10,500 workers. However, not a single contract has been signed with any location.
After founder Howard Schultz was eased out of the chief executive slot in favor of Brian Niccol, the company entered more active negotiations that raised hope among employees.
“Things were actually looking good earlier in the year, but then the last two months — nothing,” said Danielle Stolton, 35, a shift supervisor at the Alpharetta store and a bargaining delegate. “Pay is number one. I couldn’t afford an apartment around here.”
The union has filed complaints of unfair labor practices against the company, some pegged to Schultz giving raises only to nonunion employees as a response to the union organizing.
In recent contract negotiations, Starbucks has proposed no new wage increases for unionized baristas now and only a 1.5% raise in future years, according to union officials.
Hours and job security also matter, striking workers in Alpharetta said.
Workers must hit a certain number of hours per week to qualify for benefits.
Dubbing it, “The Strike Before Christmas,” the union said the action is the largest-yet aimed at Starbucks. As of midday Tuesday, workers were striking at Starbucks locations in a number of cities, including Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Dallas and Los Angeles.
Union organizing at Starbucks has been going on for several years. Employees at hundreds of stores have voted to join the union, but the giant coffee chain has yet to agree to a contract with a single one.
Experts say the union is fighting an uphill battle.
Current labor rules force the union to organize store by store. That means during long delays in negotiating, a store can see turnover in staff, which would allow the company to challenge a vote to unionize by workers who have left.
Brooke Bailey, 21, said she’s been working at Starbucks for three years, putting in 30 to 35 hours a week and making $16.50 an hour as a barista. She still lives with her parents.
“I would really like to move out, and I know I’d need at least $20 an hour to do that.”
