(Reuters) -More than 1,000 Starbucks unionized baristas launched an open-ended strike on Thursday, intensifying their push for a collective bargaining agreement over pay and other benefits at the coffee giant.
Starbucks Workers United has repeatedly targeted the company’s Red Cup Day – one of its busiest days – when customers receive free reusable holiday-themed cups with coffee purchases.
Here is a timeline of the key moments in Starbucks’ negotiations with its union:
December 2021:
Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize, forming the chain’s first U.S. unionized store with Workers United.
May 2022:
Over 50 Starbucks cafes voted to unionize and former U.S. President Joe Biden met with organizers from Starbucks and Amazon.
November 2022:
Workers at more than 100 U.S. company-owned Starbucks locations staged a one-day “Red Cup Rebellion” over alleged retaliation against union activity.
June 2023:
About 3,000 workers from over 150 stores walked out over claims of banned Pride decorations, prompting new company guidelines.
November 2023:
Employees at hundreds of Starbucks stores walked off their jobs during the company’s Red Cup Day event, and the company later said it would raise the hourly pay of U.S. retail workers by at least 3% from 2024.
February 2024:
Starbucks and the Workers United union said they agreed to create a “framework” to guide organizing and collective bargaining and potentially settle scores of pending legal disputes.
December 2024:
Starbucks union members at over 300 stores walked out over pay, staffing and scheduling issues.
January 2025:
Starbucks and its union agreed to bring in a mediator to aid stalled contract negotiations and reach a deal.
April 2025:
Starbucks union delegates involved in contract bargaining voted to reject the coffee chain’s latest proposal that guaranteed annual raises of at least 2%.
November 2025:
More than 1,000 Starbucks employees in over 40 U.S. cities launched an open-ended strike, which the union has said could become the longest and largest strike in the company’s history.
(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)
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