Starbucks workers and unions in 10 countries to protest in support of US baristas
Starbucks workers and union members in England, Scotland and eight other countries protested on Wednesday in support of striking US workers, the company’s US union told the BBC.
The Starbucks Workers Union launched a strike last month, and the union said it had expanded to include 3,000 baristas in more than 100 US cities. Workers are pushing for better pay and staffing and for the coffee chain to resolve hundreds of allegations of unfair labor practices.
Starbucks said the strike affected less than 1 percent of the chain’s stores and had “no impact” on overall business.
Starbucks Workers United said hundreds of workers and union supporters will join the international action.
Coordinated global action is unlikely to directly impact the company financially. This comes as the US union seeks to increase pressure on the chain after negotiations stalled.
It was stated that the rallies organized by the Unite union in the United Kingdom will be held in London, Norwich and Glasgow. Workers in Glasgow will take part in a work stoppage.
Coordinated demonstrations are also planned at Starbucks stores and offices in cities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Türkiye. Also Wednesday, baristas are preparing to protest at the world’s largest Starbucks in Chicago.
“Starbucks managers need to know: Wherever Starbucks is, our pickets will be there,” Diego Franco, a barista from Chicago, said in a statement. he said.
The company maintains that its pay and benefits are industry-leading and that baristas continue to earn more hours per week on average.
In recent years, Starbucks has faced consumer boycotts, new competitors and customer backlash over high prices, as well as turmoil in its leadership ranks.
Under CEO Brian Niccol, the chain is working to bring customers back by promising faster service and a return to its coffeehouse roots with ceramic mugs and hand-written notes.
He also outlined plans to invest more than $500 million to improve staffing and training.
In October, Starbucks reported 1% growth in sales at its global stores open at least a year; This was the first quarterly increase in almost two years. However, sales in the US remained flat.
Despite some recent progress in boosting sales, the company is still grappling with a years-long labor dispute that threatens to hamper its return by attracting unwelcome scrutiny.
The Starbucks Workers United union, which launched four years ago, said it won elections at more than 600 stores — roughly 5% of the chain’s U.S. stores.
Union leaders say relations improved last year, but contract talks stalled when Mr. Niccol, who was in charge of Chipotle when it faced complaints about workers’ rights violations, took over the company last September.
The two sides remained at loggerheads over pay, staffing and unresolved allegations of unfair labor practices even after agreeing to bring in a mediator in January.
