Starbucks’ workers’ union significantly widened its ongoing strike on Black Friday, extending the walkout to more than 120 stores nationwide—nearly double the number that began the action earlier this month—amid demands for better pay and improved staffing levels.
The strike, which the union says is now the longest in Starbucks’ history, began on Nov. 13 during the company’s annual Red Cup Day, initially involving 65 stores across more than 40 cities. Since then, union organizers have accused the coffee giant of understaffing busy locations and failing to meaningfully engage in negotiations over wages and working conditions.
Despite the surge in strike participation over one of the busiest retail days of the year, Starbucks said Friday that the protest has caused no major disruptions to its operations, noting that the majority of its 9,000 U.S. corporate-owned stores remain open.
Union leaders counter that the walkouts are meant to send a message on a critical shopping day, emphasizing that workers “deserve a seat at the table” as Starbucks continues to report strong revenues.
The escalation marks another flashpoint in the ongoing standoff between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, which has succeeded in unionizing more than 370 stores since 2021 but has yet to secure a first contract at any location.
