The Red Cup rebellion rages on as Starbucks workers’ union strike extends into its fourth week. Starbucks Workers United, the union representing the biggest assembly of baristas from the coffee chain, began its protest on November 13, 2025. The strike was initiated as a way to push the company to return to contract negotiations and present terms that effectively met the demands of the workers. The event also happened to disrupt the company’s Red Cup Day promotional event and has continued through a high-sales Black Friday period as well. With around 2,500 baristas out protesting on the streets, the strike has extended into what is being called the longest in Starbucks’ history.
The Starbucks baristas’ strike shows no signs of halting as the union remains determined to organize the biggest protest in the company’s history. (Image: Freepik)
Unionized Starbucks Baristas Continue to Strike with No Indication of Backing Down
The Starbucks Workers United union initiated the protest after continued conflict with the coffee giant, with over 18 months of contract negotiations reaping no results. Thousands of workers began the protest on November 13, but the strike has since expanded to 120 stores across 85 cities, with over 2,500 workers now participating in the strike. The expansion from 65 to 120 stores occurred during the critical Black Friday period for the coffee chain, in hopes that the interruption to the business proceedings would urge the company towards action.
“We’re striking for a fair union contract, resolution of unfair labor practices, and a better future at Starbucks. For every one barista on strike, dozens more allies and customers have pledged to honor the picket line and not buy Starbucks while we’re on strike,” the union explained on its website.
What Caused the Starbucks Strike in 2025?
Believed to be the longest strike in Starbucks history, the indefinite strike shows no signs of slowing down. The union alleges that after national framework bargaining began in April 2024, and proposals were shared by the company as well as the union, the Seattle-based coffee chain rejected all of the suggested contract terms. It accused Starbucks of putting forth an “unserious economic package” that did little to improve the key issues that baristas wanted to see change on, with the company later backtracking on previously agreed-upon terms.
Disappointed, the union filed a national unfair labor practice (ULP) charge this time last year, accusing the company of failing to negotiate in good faith. Despite ongoing negotiations, Starbucks reportedly then installed various policies in place under the new CEO’s Back to Starbucks strategy without consulting the union, one of which sparked a small-scale protest earlier this year. According to the union’s website, it has filed over 100 new ULPs against Starbucks in 2025.
The current Starbucks baristas’ strike was a result of a further effort to escalate the situation and urge the company to present a more amenable contract.
What Are the Starbucks Workers’ Union Demands?
While Starbucks claims to offer “the best job in retail,” unionized baristas believe the company could do more. The primary union demands revolve around better working hours to improve the staffing at Starbucks stores, and higher take-home pay so workers can get by with greater ease. While Starbucks has moved to offer a better set of benefits to workers, more want to see changes to the pay grade.
The union also demanded “resolution for hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges for union busting.” This particular demand may be harder to break down and address, but the union appears set on ensuring the company fully resolves the legal issues impacting baristas.
Will the Starbucks Red Cup Rebellion Be Successful?
Despite the lengthy strike during a peak sales period for the employers, the company does not appear to have faced major disruptions. “As we’ve said, 99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open and welcoming customers — including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened,” a spokesperson said in a statement to The Seattle Times. “Regardless of the union’s plans, we do not anticipate any meaningful disruption.”
Starbucks also told the paper that the union efforts are slowly dying down, with workers choosing to return to their jobs. The union currently boasts 11,000 members across 550 active stores. Only a small fraction appear to have joined the protest, making it easier for Starbucks to proceed with its operations undeterred. The union, for its part, has committed to making this the “largest and longest strike in company history during the critical holiday season.”
With both sides determined to continue on their selected course, it does not appear likely that the Starbucks strike of 2025 will conclude with any urgency. Just this year, Boeing defence workers ended a three-month-long strike after securing a satisfactory contract. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalists ended a three-year-long strike after a court ruling that won them certain guarantees, although a union contract has not been signed. Will Starbucks baristas similarly secure a deal that works in their favor? That remains to be seen.
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