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Starbucks workers to strike in three major cities across the US from TODAY
Workers at Starbucks are set to strike today in three major cities across America, as the holiday season approaches. The mass walk-out will initially affect stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, with the potential to spread to more outlets every day until Tuesday.
The action comes after months of stalled negotiations between the company and its employees regarding pay and working conditions. Starbucks Workers United, a union that claims to represent hundreds of baristas across the country, stated that the strike is a “last resort” due to the lack of progress in discussions with management.
“We refuse to accept zero immediate investment in baristas’ wages and no resolution of the hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practices,” said Lynne Fox, president of Workers United. “Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners.”
Starbucks has countered by claiming that its delegates prematurely ended negotiations this week, despite having made progress in previous talks. The company also emphasized its current compensation package, which includes an average pay of over $18 per hour, as well as benefits like health coverage, paid family leave, and free college tuition for employees.
“We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements,” said Starbucks. “We need the union to return to the table.”
The walk-out comes at a critical time for the coffee giant, which is struggling with stagnating sales in key markets. In an effort to reverse this trend, the company brought on former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol earlier this year, who has been tasked with turning around stagnant sales.
As part of his compensation package, Niccol will receive a minimum of $113 million, a sum that is vastly disproportionate to the wages earned by Starbucks’ average barista.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
