WORKERS at Starbucks staged their first strike in 13 months today, planning escalating strike action between now and Christmas Eve.

The action is the largest work stoppage by members of Starbucks Workers United since the organising campaign started at the coffee retailer three years ago.

The strikes are scheduled to begin in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle — home of the original Starbucks — and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve.

SWU, which has organised workers at 535 company-owned US stores, said Starbucks has failed to honour a commitment made in February to reach an agreement with them this year. 

The union also wants the company to resolve outstanding legal issues, including hundreds of unfair labour practice charges that workers have filed with the National Labour Relations Board.

The union said Starbucks’ new chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who started in September, could make more than $100 million (around £80m) in his first year. 

But the company recently proposed an economic package with no new wage increases for unionised baristas now and a 1.5 per cent increase in future years, the union said.

SWU president Lynne Fox said: “Union baristas know their value, and they’re not going to accept a proposal that doesn’t treat them as true partners.”

Seattle-based Starbucks said SWU prematurely ended a bargaining session this week. Starbucks has nearly 10,000 company-owned stores in the US.

“We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table,” Starbucks said.

Starbucks said it already offers pay and benefits — including free college tuition and paid family leave — worth $30 (around £24) per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week.

The strikes aren’t the first during Starbucks’s busy holiday season. In November 2023, thousands of workers at more than 200 stores walked out on Red Cup Day, a day when the company usually gives away thousands of reusable cups. 

Hundreds of workers also went on strike in June 2023 in protest after the union said Starbucks banned Pride displays at some stores.

The union and the company returned to the bargaining table earlier this year pledging to reach an agreement. Starbucks said it has held nine bargaining sessions with the union since April, and has reached more than 30 agreements with the union.

But Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, a Starbucks barista from Texas and bargaining delegate, said: “In a year when Starbucks invested so many millions in top executive talent, it has failed to present the baristas who make its company run with a viable economic proposal.”