Yes — unionized workers at Starbucks are on strike across dozens of U.S. locations as of November 13, 2025. The labor action — launched by Starbucks Workers United (SWU) — coincides with Starbucks’ annual “Red Cup Day” promotion and targets unresolved contract negotiations and unfair-labor-practice allegations.
What’s happening right now
- More than 1,000 unionized baristas at approximately 65 company-owned stores have walked out on an open-ended strike.
- The strike spans at least 40 cities (some reports say 42+), including New York City, Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Seattle.
- The action is timed to disrupt Starbucks’ “Red Cup Day” — a major holiday-season sales event when customers receive a free reusable cup with certain purchases.
- The union says the strike is meant to pressure Starbucks into negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement, and to force resolution of hundreds of unfair-labor-practice (ULP) charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
- Starbucks maintains that fewer than 1% of its U.S. stores are impacted and that the majority of its roughly 10,000 company-owned and 7,000 licensed U.S. locations continue to operate normally.
Why the strike is happening
Key disputes
- Workers and SWU say Starbucks has failed to reach a contract despite the union representing about 9,500 to 12,000 workers at roughly 550 stores.
- Primary demands include:
- Higher wages and improved staffing so shifts aren’t understaffed.
- Better scheduling and access to benefits (many cited being capped under 20 hours to avoid benefits).
- A resolution to unfair labor practice accusations—such as alleged firings of union-supporting employees and non-bargained policy changes.
- Starbucks argues that it already offers “the best benefit and wage package in retail” (stating about $30/hour equivalent) and says progress stalled because the union walked away from bargaining.
Timing and leverage
- The strike is deliberately timed to coincide with “Red Cup Day,” one of Starbucks’ highest-traffic promotions each year.
- By targeting this busy sales day, the union hopes to raise public visibility of their demands and apply pressure on the company.
How big is the union presence and strike scope?
| Metric | Estimate / Note |
|---|---|
| Stores unionised | ~550 company-owned U.S. stores. |
| Workers represented | More than 9,500 baristas (union-quoted). |
| Stores initially striking | About 65 stores. |
| Cities involved | 40-45+ U.S. cities. |
| Proportion of total Starbucks U.S. stores affected | Less than 1% of company-owned stores per Starbucks. |
So while the strike is quite visible and strategically timed, it currently affects a relatively small share of the company’s total U.S. footprint.
What’s at stake for customers and Starbucks
- For customers: Some locations—particularly union-led stores in the strike list—may be closed, experience delays, or operate with reduced staff. Media accounts note that some stores were already forced to close.
- For Starbucks: The company is under pressure to prove that restructuring and leadership changes are working. The strike threatens not only disruption but reputational risk, especially around holiday promotions.
- For the workforce: Success in securing a first contract could set important precedent for hospitality and retail union efforts at the chain. The union believes its leverage is growing.
What’s next — possible outcomes
- Escalation: The union has indicated the strike could expand beyond the initial 65 stores to many more if no contract is reached.
- Negotiations: Starbucks states it is ready to return to bargaining, but the union says meaningful talks have not occurred since April 2024.
- Impact assessment: Analysts expect that even a limited strike can draw customer attention and influence operations, but full broad-scale disruption would require many more stores joining.
- Holiday season risk: Because the strike is synchronized with a major promotional event, it carries higher visibility. Prolonged disruption could affect sales, staffing morale, and public perception.
In summary
Yes, the question “are Starbucks workers on strike?” must be answered with a clear yes — unionized baristas are striking at a number of U.S. Starbucks stores as of November 13, 2025. Their move is carefully timed, targeted, and rooted in long-running contract negotiations and labour-practice disputes. While Starbucks says most stores remain unaffected, the potential for escalation and reputational impact remains significant.