Starbucks Workers Expand Nationwide Strike as Holiday Walkouts Grow

Starbucks workers are expanding their nationwide strike today, continuing their walkouts from last Friday as they demand better working conditions and fair treatment. The strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, initially shut down a Starbucks location in Burbank at Alameda Avenue and Shelton Street and has now spread to major cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. The walkouts are expected to grow daily, with hundreds of Starbucks stores nationwide anticipated to be impacted by Christmas Eve, according to the union. On Sunday, union baristas in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Saint Louis joined their counterparts in Los Angeles, Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Seattle, where strikes had already begun. Dozens of stores were shut down across these cities as part of the coordinated effort. The strikes come at a critical time as the holiday shopping rush reaches its peak, with many Starbucks stores seeing a surge in customer demand. Workers are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and an end to what they say are retaliatory actions by the company against unionized employees. With walkouts expected to continue through the final days leading up to Christmas, Starbucks is facing growing pressure to address the concerns of its employees. The ongoing strike is part of a larger labor dispute that has drawn national attention to the company's labor practices. Credit: City News Service