Starbucks workers plan three-day walkout at 100 US stores in bid to unionise
- This is the second major strike in a month by Starbucks’ US workers who held a one-day walkout at 110 Starbucks stores on November 17
- Starbucks opposes the unionisation effort, saying the company functions better when it works directly with employees
Starbucks workers around the United States are planning a three-day strike starting on Friday as part of their effort to unionise the coffee chain’s stores.
More than 1,000 baristas at 100 stores are planning to walk out, according to Starbucks Workers United, the labour group organising the effort. The strike will be the longest in the year-old unionisation campaign.
This is the second major strike in a month by Starbucks’ US workers. On November 17, workers at 110 Starbucks stores held a one-day walkout. That effort coincided with Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day, when the company gives reusable cups to customers who order a holiday drink.
More than 264 of Starbucks’ 9,000 company-run US stores have voted to unionise since late last year.
Starbucks opposes the unionisation effort, saying the company functions better when it works directly with employees. But the company said last month that it respects employees’ lawful right to protest.