United States of America

US: Over 1K Starbucks Baristas Strike on Red Cup Day in 40+ Cities

Published NOV 14 2025

Story

Above: A picket outside a Starbucks store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, U.S., on Nov. 13, 2025. Image credit: Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Starbucks Workers United launched a strike at coffeehouses in over 40 cities on Thursday, with more than 1,000 baristas walking out after failing to secure a collective bargaining agreement, according to union representatives.
Starbucks Workers United
The strike coincided with Starbucks Red Cup Day, an annual promotional event where customers receive free reusable holiday cups with beverage purchases. The event typically marks one of the company's busiest days of the year by sales.
FOX 5 New York
The Guardian
According to Starbucks, Workers United represents approximately 9,500 workers (around 4% of company employees), though the union claims to represent over 12,000 workers across roughly 550 unionized stores.
The Washington Examiner
Anadolu Ajansı
Starbucks states that it offers wages and benefits worth an average of $30 per hour, while the union reports starting wages of $15.25 per hour in about 33 states, with many baristas receiving fewer than 20 hours of work per week.
Al Jazeera
New York Post
The union has previously filed more than 1,000 charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices, including claims that Starbucks terminated employees for unionizing activities and failed to bargain in good faith.
Starbucks Workers United
Under CEO Brian Niccol's leadership, Starbucks recently ended a two-year streak of declining same-store sales and announced plans to close approximately 1% of locations while eliminating nearly 1,000 non-retail positions.
Forbes
The Washington Examiner

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Starbucks baristas deserve better than earning $17 an hour while CEO Brian Niccol pockets $96 million in just four months. The company is slashing hours, understaffing stores and spending $240 million on union-busting instead of fixing real problems.

Common Dreams

Bernie Sanders on X

Narrative B

Starbucks offers the best benefits and wages in retail with flexible scheduling that works around personal commitments, including school hours. The company provides valuable corporate experience, strict customer service training, and genuine career development opportunities. The demands of Starbucks Workers' United remain unreasonable while management remains ready to negotiate fair resolutions.