A union of Starbucks employees has announced a strike in the United States starting Friday in three American cities, which could expand and last until Christmas Eve if the company does not accede to their demands. Workers United intends to get the coffee chain to negotiate better working conditions and salary increases, according to a press release released Thursday. The union explains that Starbucks has committed several times this year to renegotiate contracts, but “she still has not presented workers with a serious economic proposal”.
After months of discussions and “dozens of agreements in principle”has “less than two weeks before the end of year deadline”Starbucks “proposed an economic package providing no new wage increases for unionized baristas (waiters) and guaranteeing only 1.5% for future years”the organization is indignant. Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request from AFP.
Strikes are scheduled to begin Friday in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. Walkouts could reach hundreds of cafes in the United States by December 24, “unless Starbucks honors its commitment made in February to work together to establish a fundamental framework for reaching collective agreements for thousands of union workers”insists the union. He emphasizes that “the last shopping weekend before Christmas is traditionally one of the times of year when Starbucks is busiest”.
“The holidays should be magical at Starbucks, but for many of us, mint mochas and gingerbread lattes have a darker side.”said Arloa Fluhr, barista for the chain for 18 years in Illinois, quoted in the press release. “I know what it’s like to panic because my hours have been cut and I won’t be able to pay my bills and I could lose access to health care, including my daughter’s insulin which is diabetic”detailed this mother of three children.
The catering giant saw its sales decline in 2024. During the summer quarter, its turnover fell by more than 3% year-on-year, to $9 billion. For a comparable number of stores around the world, the drop is 7%. Its net profit came to $909 million, a drop of more than 25%.
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