Starbucks strike expands in US amid holiday rush

Starbucks workers, represented by Workers United, expanded their strike to four additional US cities, including New York, the union announced late Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began Friday, has now closed stores in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. The union did not specify the New Jersey location affected.

The walkout, driven by disputes over wages, staffing, and schedules, coincides with the busy holiday season, potentially disrupting Starbucks’ Christmas sales. Workers United warned that the strike could escalate to hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve.

Negotiations between Starbucks and the union, which started in April, remain at an impasse. Starbucks previously stated it had reached 30 agreements during about eight bargaining sessions but did not comment on the strike. The coffee giant operates over 11,000 US stores with about 200,000 employees.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama