Hundreds of additional unionized Starbucks baristas joined the national Red Cup Rebellion on Thursday, expanding what organizers say has become the longest unfair labor practice strike in the company’s history — and now includes several stores across New Jersey.
Workers United, the union representing Starbucks baristas, said 3,000 workers at more than 145 stores in over 105 cities are now participating in the open-ended ULP strike, which began Nov. 13 on the company’s annual Red Cup Day. Stores in Ledgewood, Parsippany, Pennington and Rockaway were among those newly joining the walkout this week.
“We know a better future is possible at Starbucks, which is why I’m proud to join the Red Cup Rebellion alongside thousands of my fellow union baristas,” said Sabina Aguirre, a barista from Columbus, Ohio. “Baristas are what make Starbucks run. We need the company to stop union busting and finally finalize a fair union contract that improves our pay, hours, and staffing.”
Workers say they are striking against what they describe as Starbucks’ refusal to negotiate a fair contract and its history of union-busting — allegations the company has repeatedly denied in the past. Baristas argue that without a contract, they continue to struggle with inconsistent hours, understaffing and wages that have not kept pace with living costs.
Union organizers say the company’s leadership could resolve the dispute at minimal cost. They noted that reaching a contract “would cost Starbucks less than one average day’s sales” and far less than the compensation of former CEO Laxman Narasimhan, whose 2024 pay package sparked criticism among workers.
Meanwhile, public backing for the strike appears to be growing. More than 200,000 customers and supporters have now signed a “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge, promising to avoid Starbucks until a contract is reached.
Union members say Starbucks has not presented new proposals in more than six months, despite workers’ repeated demands for:
- More reliable hours to address chronic understaffing and qualify more baristas for benefits.
- Higher take-home pay to keep pace with rising costs of living.
- Resolution of hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice cases tied to alleged anti-union activity.
“As we’ve said, 99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open and welcoming customers —including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened. Regardless of the union’s plans, we do not anticipate any meaningful disruption. When the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk. The facts are clear, Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging $30 per hour for hourly partners. People choose to work here and stay here—our turnover is less than half the industry average, and we receive more than a million job applications every year,” Jaci Anderson, a spokesperson for Starbucks, said.
Across the country, only 55 coffeehouses are currently impacted by strike action – that’s fewer than when they started this on Red Cup Day last month. The truth is the strike is losing momentum, and more Starbucks partners are going back to work, Anderson said.
