New York: More than a thousand unionised Starbucks baristas have walked off the job across the United States, marking the largest strike in the company’s history.
The open-ended work stoppage began Thursday at 65 stores and coincided with the chain’s high-traffic Red Cup Day promotion, when customers typically flock in for free holiday-themed reusable cups.
Starbucks Workers United, which represents about 550 stores nationwide, said more locations in major cities, including Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Austin, and Portland, will continue joining the strike. Some stores had already closed for the day as picket lines formed outside.
The coffeeshop chain, which operates more than 18,000 stores across the US and Canada, said the walkouts have had limited impact so far. But the union urged customers not to shop at any Starbucks branch during the strike and announced nationwide rallies beginning at 4 pm local time.
The dispute comes after months of failed negotiations. The union has filed more than 1,000 complaints with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices, including firing workers who supported union drives. Last week, members voted to authorise a strike if no contract was reached by November 13.
As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we’re prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX pic.twitter.com/zFLACFXnwJ
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) November 13, 2025
Starbucks says it pays an average of $19 per hour and provides benefits such as healthcare and parental leave to those working at least 20 hours a week. The union counters that starting wages sit at 15.25 dollars in most states and that many baristas receive fewer than 20 hours weekly, leaving them without adequate income or benefits.
This latest strike reflects a deeper struggle that began in 2021 when a Buffalo, New York store became the first to unionise, sparking a movement that now represents about 9,500 workers. Since then, Starbucks staff have walked out multiple times, including during the 2022 holiday rush and again in late 2024 when negotiations stalled.
Labour experts say the ongoing conflict highlights the company’s reluctance to finalise a contract despite widespread worker support. Many believe Starbucks has used delay tactics, prompting workers to strengthen their organising efforts.
🎶Picket liiiiiiines
And the striking’s easyyy🎶🌞🌴Long Beach, CA is out today demanding Starbucks do the right thing: Finalize contracts with the wages and staffing we need, and put an end to union-busting!#NoContractNoCoffee https://t.co/M6VuRfIcNX pic.twitter.com/jXmjfrIAZF
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) November 13, 2025
The strike also unfolds as CEO Brian Niccol leads a major restructuring effort. Starbucks is closing hundreds of underperforming stores, including a unionised Seattle flagship, and cutting corporate roles to control costs. Niccol, formerly the head of Chipotle, has focused on improving service times and reviving sluggish US beverage sales.
Union leaders, however, say negotiations have moved backwards since Niccol’s arrival. His compensation package in 2024 exceeded 95 million dollars. Much of that pay came from stock awards, though Starbucks shares have fallen six percent since he took over.
