Workers at three Starbucks coffeehouses in the Seattle area are continuing to strike one week after picket lines first formed at stores around the country to protest stalled union contract negotiations.
Two Seattle stores — one in the University District, 4147 University Way N.E., and another at 1144 Elliott Ave. W. — and a Redmond location, 7625 170th Ave. N.E., were still striking, according to Starbucks Workers United, the union representing thousands of baristas.
The three locations seemed to be shuttered Thursday morning.
The vast majority of Starbucks stores on strike have been forced to close due to lack of sufficient staffing," the union said Thursday. "We imagine the company will try to bring in other workers or managers to cover stores, which has had mixed results."
Workers United said Thursday that 2,000 baristas from 95 stores across 65 cities are part of the strike.
Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said Wednesday that 99% of the Seattle-based coffee giant's 17,000 locations in the U.S. are open.
Strikes kicked off on Nov. 13 to coincide with Red Cup Day, a major holiday promotional event. That day, the union estimated that over 1,000 baristas across more than 65 stores in about 40 cities participated.
Anderson said, last week, the union publicized 64 strikes, "but only 49 of our coffeehouses experienced any disruption — and 29 of those have already reopened."
"In fact, 13 coffeehouses on their strike list never closed at all," she said in a statement.
In a letter to Starbucks employees on Nov. 14, CEO Brian Niccol made no mention of the strikes.
"What an incredible start to the holiday season," he wrote. Last Thursday, "we had our strongest Reusable Red Cup Day in company history."
Niccol, who's been at the helm of the company since September 2024, previously told Workers United that he respected the right to union representation, according to media reports. But he's stayed silent about the latest union actions, in spite of numerous lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pushing him to reach a contract.
"It is clear that Starbucks has the money to reach a fair agreement with its workers," 26 Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Niccol. "Starbucks must reverse course from its current posture, resolve its existing labor disputes, and bargain a fair contract in good faith with these employees."
Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson recently pledged her support to the union, saying, "I am not buying Starbucks, and you should not either."
Niccol has remained focused on his $1 billion restructuring plan announced in September, which included layoffs and store closures.
After the union won its first election in 2021, more than 650 stores have unionized, but store closures culled that number down to over 550, according to Workers United.
After years of clashes and hundreds of unfair labor practice charges, Workers United and Starbucks met at the bargaining table in early 2024. However, the first collective bargaining agreement has yet to be finalized.
Baristas are looking for increased hours, higher take-home pay and resolution of labor law violations, according to the union.
In a statement, Workers United spokesperson Michelle Eisen called on Starbucks to bring "NEW proposals that address these issues so we can finalize a contract. Until then, you’ll see us and our allies on the picket line."
Anderson said the company wants to restart negotiations.
"When the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk, she said.
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