Denver Starbucks Workers Go on Strike Over Pay and Labor Practices
Employees of Denver’s unionized Starbucks stores took to the streets on Saturday to protest the coffee company’s alleged refusal to negotiate over pay and address unfair labor practices. The strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, began at Starbucks locations in Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles on Friday and expanded to include stores in Denver, Columbus, and Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Barista Shay Mannik stood in solidarity with his coworkers on the picket line outside the University Hills store on Saturday morning. Despite the store’s management removing patio furniture to discourage workers from gathering, Mannik described the group as being “in high spirits” and even setting up lawn chairs for support.
Mannik, like many of his coworkers, struggles to make ends meet on his Starbucks wage. With more than half of his income going towards rent each month, he has witnessed colleagues abandon college plans and face difficulties supporting their families on wages barely above the minimum in Denver.
Speaking about the strike, Mannik emphasized the need for a living wage, stating, “They have the money, and they’re not investing it in the people who make their profits.”
In response to ongoing contract negotiations, Starbucks submitted a proposal this month that addressed wages but fell short of the union’s demands. The proposal included minimal raises, with only a 1.5% increase in future years, equating to less than 50 cents an hour for most baristas.
Starbucks Workers United issued a warning that the strike would continue to expand to more stores daily until Tuesday or until Starbucks meets their demands for raises and resolves the numerous labor complaints.
Despite the strike, Starbucks maintained that the ongoing protest had “no significant impact to our store operations,” and only a small number of U.S. stores were affected. The company expressed respect for their partners’ right to strike and acknowledged the support of thousands of partners delivering the Starbucks experience to customers.
Currently, six Denver Starbucks stores are unionized under Workers United, with employees at a seventh store on Alameda Avenue and Federal Boulevard also seeking to join the union.
The union highlighted that the last weekend before Christmas is typically a busy period for the chain, emphasizing the value that union baristas bring to the company and their refusal to accept proposals that do not treat them as true partners.
As the strike continues, the future of negotiations and the resolution of grievances remain uncertain, with both Starbucks and Workers United standing firm in their positions.
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Originally Published: December 21, 2024 at 2:25 PM MST
