Starbucks faces a strike at more than 300 US stores, with more than 5,000 workers going to walk off the job on Christmas Eve, according to Reuters.
The company, which operated more than 10,000 stores across the United States, said 98 per cent of its outlets remained open. However, the workers’ union claimed that more than 290 shops were “fully shut down,” with over 300 stores on strike in 45 US states.
The union representing workers at 525 stores nationwide announced strikes in 12 major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle, over wages, staffing and schedules. The strike began on Friday after talks between Starbucks and the union stalled.
Earlier this month, a group of workers rejected an offer of no immediate pay raises and a guarantee of a 1.5-per-cent wage increase in following years. The union also said Starbucks had yet to present its workers with “a serious economic proposal.”
We are ready to continue negotiations when the union comes back to the bargaining table.