New York — Starbucks employees have escalated their strike to additional cities, including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, as part of an ongoing dispute with the company. The strike, organized by a union representing over 10,000 workers, began on Friday and has disrupted operations across 10 cities during the critical holiday season.
Initially impacting locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, the industrial action has now extended its reach. The union cites unresolved issues over wages, staffing levels, and work schedules as the primary reasons for the protest.
The five-day strike is expected to affect Starbucks’ revenue during Christmas, with union representatives warning that it could spread to "hundreds of stores" by Christmas Eve. Discussions between the company and union representatives, which began in April, have so far resulted in 30 agreements after eight negotiation sessions, but key disputes remain unsettled.
Starbucks, which operates over 11,000 stores nationwide with a workforce of approximately 200,000 employees, faces mounting pressure as the union intensifies its action.