Starbucks baristas go on strike in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle

A union of Starbucks employees announced a strike starting Friday in three U.S. cities, which could last until Christmas Day if the company does not accede to its demands, AFP reported.

The announcement, which will initially affect stores in Los Angeles, Chicagoand Seattle, the company's hometown, comes after Amazon workers started a work stoppage Thursday at several facilities across the country during the home stretch of holiday shopping.

Workers United is asking the coffee chain for better working conditions and wage increases. The union explains in a statement that Starbucks has committed several times this year to renegotiate contracts, but "has yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal."

After months of talks and "less than two weeks before their end-of-year deadline," the company "proposed no immediate wage increase for union baristas, and a guarantee of only 1.5% wage increases in future years," the union claims.

Starbucks claimed, for its part, that union delegates "prematurely ended" negotiations this week. "It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date," the company said.

It added that it is offering a competitive average wage of more than $18 per hour and benefits including health coverage, paid family leave, company stock grants and free college tuition for employees. The company added it wanted to get the union back to negotiating.

The restaurant giant's sales plummeted in 2024. The strike, which the union says will affect more stores each day through Tuesday, comes at a time when Starbucks is facing stagnation in key markets.

During the summer quarter, its revenue fell more than 3% year-on-year to $9 billion, comparable store sales fell 7% globally, and its net profit was $909 million, a drop of more than 25%.