Facing Unprecedented Labor Violations, Starbucks Workers Overwhelmingly Agree to Strike Indefinitely

https://inthesetimes.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-red-cup-rebellion-strike-picket

Unfair wages, chronic understaffing and hundreds of ULPs have led to a Starbucks Workers United super-majority vote to strike.
Maximillian Alvarez November 15, 2025



MAXIMILLIAN ALVAREZ: By the time you hear this, Starbucks workers in over 25 cities across the country may be on strike. Last week, a super majority of unionized baristas with Starbucks Workers United voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike ahead of the holiday season. The strike would begin on Thursday Nov. 13, on so-called Red Cup Day, Starbucks’s annual corporate holiday.

To talk about all of this, I am honored to be joined on the show today by Michelle Eisen herself.

Michelle is a 15-year veteran barista and a spokesperson for Starbucks Workers United. In 2021, Michelle and her co-workers in Buffalo, New York formed the first Starbucks labor union in the United States. Michelle, thank you so much for joining us today. I really appreciate it.

MICHELLE EISEN: Yes, thanks so much for having me. Last week, we announced that 92% of union workers voted to authorize a strike, should the company not respond to our multiple requests for them to return to the bargaining table with new proposals that will address the outstanding issues; mainly more take-home pay for workers, better hours to fix the chronic understaffing in our stores and to resolve the — you said it — hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice charges that are still hanging over their heads.

FULL story at link above.