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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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Starbucks Workers United, the union of baristas and other workers from across hundreds of locations across the United States, has blocked the entrance to the company's Seattle headquarters in order to escalate the barista strike.
Newsweek reached out to Starbucks and the Seattle Police Department by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
Starbucks baristas initiated their strike on November 13, known as Red Cup Day, one of the busiest days of the year for the coffee company, and the strike has continued over the past month as workers demand an end to "unfair labor practices (ULP)."
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The union alleges that Starbucks has engaged in union busting activity and refused to finalize "a fair union contract," with the company "refusing to offer new proposals to address workers' demands for better staffing, higher pay, and resolution for hundreds of unfair labor practice charges."
Starbucks in turn has stressed they have remained at the bargaining table and worked "in good faith" to "reach agreements that make sense for partners and for the long-term success of Starbucks. We reached more than 30 tentative agreements on full contract articles."
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What To Know
The Starbucks Workers United strike has drawn national attention, with several lawmakers joining the strike.
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat and one of the architects of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, and Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, have joined the picket line and backed the union's demands.
The union has escalated the matter by taking their strike to Starbucks corporate headquarters where they plan a sit-in until the company meets their demands although they have received warnings from the police that they have until Monday morning to clear out.
"We took our ULP strike to Starbucks HQ in Seattle and plan to stay until [Starbucks] stops union busting and brings new proposals to the table...Today the cops told baristas they’ve been asked to clear the camp by tomorrow. Watch this space!" the union wrote on its X account on Sunday afternoon.
Some union members started sitting in front of corporate headquarters on Thursday but only received a warning from police over the weekend.
The police have yet to make a public comment or statement on the protest.
What People Are Saying
Starbucks in a statement posted in November on the company website, in part: "Our commitment to bargaining hasn’t changed. Workers United walked away from the table but if they are ready to come back, we’re ready to talk. We believe we can move quickly to a reasonable deal."
Dachi Spoltore, a Pittsburgh barista who is on a ULP strike, in a statement posted on the union's website: "We’re turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion. Starbucks’ refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action. We’re striking for a fair union contract, resolution of unfair labor practices, and a better future at Starbucks. For every one barista on strike, dozens more allies and customers have pledged to honor the picket line and not buy Starbucks while we’re on strike.”
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, wrote on X on Saturday: "I’m proud to stand today with [Starbucks Workers United] organizing in California for better pay, regular schedules, and against union busting."
Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, also wrote on X on Saturday: "Proud to stand with Starbucks workers today and every day! All workers deserve fair wages and a fair workplace. #NoContractNoCoffee."
What Happens Next
Baristas have said they are prepared to strike through the holidays as its currently unknown if Starbucks and the union will come to the negotiating table.
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