Workers represented by Starbucks Workers United employed at two stores in Minnesota, one in Chanhassen and one in St. Anthony, are part of an open-ended, nationwide rolling strike across the United States. Photo by Amie Stager.
Meg Davitch works at a Starbucks in Chanhassen, Minn., because she loves making coffee, and loves the barista community. “We’re on strike because we’re sick of them stonewalling us and not coming to the table,” she said at a rally hosted by Starbucks Workers United on November 13 outside the St. Anthony store. “We really care about getting this contract signed.”
It has been almost two weeks since November 13, when more than 1,000 workers represented by Starbucks Workers United kicked off an open-ended nationwide unfair labor practice (ULP) strike at over 65 stores across the United States. The charges allege bad faith bargaining, unilateral policy changes, and retaliatory firings and discipline. This is the longest ULP strike in the company’s history.
Nearly four years ago, the first Starbucks location in Buffalo, N.Y., won a union election in December of 2021. Since then, over 11,000 workers at around 550 stores have unionized, while the company has racked up over 400 violations, with more than a thousand ULP charges filed by the union. There is not a single contract at any of the unionized shops.
Two locations in Minnesota are on strike: one in St. Anthony and one in Chanhassen. On November 13, or Red Cup Day, the union hosted a rally at the St. Anthony location, where members of the community and other unions gathered in support of the baristas.
Abby Haland works at the St. Anthony store and is a member of Starbucks Workers United. She says workers are fed up with deteriorating working conditions and the extreme wealth disparity between workers and leadership. According to a report by the AFL-CIO, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol made 6,666 times more money than the average Starbucks worker in 2024.
“We are fed up with a company that treats workers as expendable while they pretend to value us,” Haland said at the rally. “But here is the truth: Real power doesn’t lie in cutting workers’ hours. Real power doesn’t come from writing workers up. Real power doesn’t look like a paycheck 6,666 times bigger than hours.”
“Real power comes from something Brian Niccol forgot,” Haland continued. “There are more of us than there are of him. The rich and powerful want us to forget that they are few, and we are many. But our union is proof. Together we have the power to change everything.”
Bryn Osborne has worked in a Starbucks location inside of Jerry’s Foods in Edina, Minn. since 2021. Workers at this location are represented by UFCW Local 663 and are not on strike since they are employed by Jerry’s Foods, not Starbucks. But she attended the rally to support striking baristas.
“We do the same job, and I’ve done it with a contract and without a contract. It’s a night and day difference,” she said at the rally. “The wages are much better. I have guaranteed raises every six months, I’m eligible for healthcare, benefits, bereavement pay, everything that a union contract offers.”
Jennifer Greenfield works at Cub and is a member of UFCW Local 663, and she also came to the rally in support of workers. “I’ve been around a long time, and I see how benefits keep getting eroded,” she said.
Former baggage handler at Delta Air Lines, Kip Hedges, says this national strike by Starbucks workers is significant for the labor movement. “It represents a whole generation of young workers that are coming in with a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and ideas that can help transform the labor movement,” said Hedges. “We have a few new breezes blowing, and a win here could increase the speed of the wind.”
Niccol made $96 million in 4 months, and the company also invested $81 million for a conference for managers. The union says a multi-year contract would cost less than $80 million to finalize.
Workers are asking the public to sign a pledge backing their demands and refusing to cross the picket line while workers are on strike. On November 20, the union announced a new wave of striking stores, and it will continue expanding the rolling strike to more stores if no progress is made.
“The fact that people are willing to rally shows that it’s important and it matters. It’s not just a small thing. It’s a big deal,” said Davitch. “It restores my faith in humanity.”