On the eve of Starbucks’ annual shareholder meeting, union baristas and allies sent a clear message to executives and investors: It’s time for the coffee giant to finalize fair union contracts and show they value the baristas who are central to the company’s turnaround.
Starbucks’ Annual Meeting of Shareholders for 2025 is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and will be held virtually.
In Pittsburgh, New York, Eaton, St. Louis, Chicago, and Seattle, union baristas walked out on unfair labor practice (ULP) strikes at important Starbucks locations as fellow baristas and allies staged sit-ins within the cafes. Baristas and their supporters peacefully protested Starbucks’ failure to resolve hundreds of unfair labor practice (ULP) charges and finalize fair contracts. At actions in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Seattle, 16 were arrested after engaging in peaceful civil disobedience including Michelle Eisen from the first store to unionize in Buffalo, N.Y. as well as current and former baristas, a faith leader and community allies.
Elsewhere, baristas and community allies led a wave of more than 100 grassroots support actions called “sip-ins” at Starbucks locations across the country Saturday through Tuesday to show support for union baristas fighting for fair contracts.
“We are still without a first contract, from a company who can certainly afford to do right by its workers,” said Michelle Eisen (she/her), a 15-year baristas and union bargaining delegate who has been fighting for fair contracts ever since winning the first union store in Buffalo, N.Y. in 2021. “[Starbucks] came to our table in the contract negotiations last time with a pitiful economic offer. We have relationships with your communities and your customers. We want to see you succeed so you have to listen to us. The first step is finalizing a contract with your union workers. We deserve better.”
Surrounded by community and customer allies and holding signs blaring, “No Contract, No Coffee,” “OUR UNION IS STRONG,” and “FAIR CONTRACT NOW,” union baristas walked off the job for a ULP strike in six of Starbucks’ priority markets, including the coffee giant’s hometown. They protested the coffee giant’s failure to resolve hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice charges and demanded Starbucks finalize fair contracts.
Baristas and allies also took to social media to make sure Starbucks heard their demands. Baristas flooded Starbucks’ #ToBeAPartner – a hashtag the coffee giant uses on its social media channels – with content from the day. And U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) tweeted supporting workers and calling out the coffee giant: “If you’re the Starbucks CEO you get $96 million for 4 months of work including a $5 million bonus. If you’re a Starbucks union worker, the CEO is refusing to give you a decent raise to pay rent & buy groceries. Starbucks must end its greed & negotiate a fair union contract.”
PITTSBURGH: Baristas turn up the heat at first union store in the state
Pittsburgh baristas went on strike and rallied outside the first union location in Pennsylvania (4765 Liberty Avenue). As striking baristas walked off the job, a vibrant crowd of community members and allies – including striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Andrew Goldstein – formed outside.
Ralliers marched on the sidewalk outside the store singing “We’ll get paid sick time when we win” and “My venti vanilla latte has got to be union made” to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” Eisen, who traveled from Buffalo to protest with fellow baristas, reminded the crowd that Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, made $800,000 a day in 2024 as the crowd chanted “Shame!”.
Eisen, fellow baristas, and community allies engaged in peaceful civil disobedience, staging a sit-in as the Pittsburgh police filed into the store. Workers hung a giant Starbucks Workers United banner in the front picture window as the crowd rallying outside held signs that said “STARBUCKS: CONTRACT NOW!” and “OUR UNION IS STRONG!” Police arrested five peacefully protesting current and former baristas, including Eisen, as they demanded Starbucks listen to baristas.
“Our CEO has made $96 million in four months, while not all of us make enough to pay our bills,” said Paige Meriwether (she/her), a 3.5 year Pittsburgh barista at the Bethel Park location. “Starbucks cannot function without its baristas. We are the face of the company. If Starbucks does not have us, the company does not run. We are working hard and working multiple positions, but not even getting paid enough to be working one. It is time for Starbucks to make a contract. If you are not going to do that, then there is no coffee!”
CHICAGO: Local elected officials, faith leaders join baristas on picket line
Chicago baristas soon joined Pittsburgh, walking off the job at the first union location in the Windy City (5964 North Ridge Avenue). With homemade paper mâche figures of the Starbucks siren and an ear-plugged Brian Niccols caricature, dozens gathered outside the storefront, chanting “Chicago is a union town,” “The workers united will never be defeated,” and “No contract, no coffee!”
“Starbucks broke from the path forward they agreed to last year. They’ve failed to finalize contracts, and there are hundreds of unfair labor practice charges unresolved – which is why we’re on a ULP strike today,”said Shepard Searl (they/them), a nine-year Chicago barista at the Clark and Ridge location. “We’re doing what it takes to win – including by taking direct action today to show Starbucks the urgency of finalizing contracts with the wages, staffing, and protections we need to thrive.”
Flanked by signs blaring “Our Union is Strong” and “Fair Contract NOW,” community allies including Alderman Andre Vasquez and ARISE Chicago joined baristas on the picket line and demanded Starbucks negotiate a fair contract with union baristas. Eleven baristas and allies including ARISE Chicago Executive Director Rev. CJ Hawking staged a sit-in and bravely took arrest in peaceful protest.
“We are going to talk about why unions are here– because you care about people– people being paid a fair wage, people getting the benefits they deserve. And guess what? You’re not going anywhere until that contract is figured out,” said Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez as picketers erupted into chants of “No contract, no coffee!”
SEATTLE: Baristas, college students rally in Starbucks’ backyard
The day came to a crescendo as Seattle baristas at the Starbucks store closest to the University of Washington – Seattle campus (4147 University Way NE) walked off the job and joined together with college students and community allies on the picket line for a rally. Nearly 100 allies gathered as they chanted “Understaffing, lousy pay—that is how your coffee’s made” and “One day longer, one day stronger. One year later, one year louder.”
“I’m out here because our store won a union election in 2022 and it’s 2025 and we have yet to see our first contract,” said Emma Cox (they/them), a 6.5-year barista trainer at the University Way location. “Starbucks pledged to proceed with bargaining in good faith last year but they have not followed through with that promise… It’s never been that they don’t have the money to give us raises. It’s that they don’t put the needs of their workers first.”
Allies and baristas took to the streets in peaceful civil disobedience, marching and chanting “What do we want? Contracts! When do we want it? Now!” and blocking traffic.
The action comes just two weeks after University of Washington – Seattle students rallied on their campus to support baristas and urged University President Ana Mari Cauce to stop serving Starbucks coffee on campus until the coffee giant settles a fair contract with wages for baristas.
“Starbucks executives: Gen Z is watching, and we don’t like what we see. You keep talking about Starbucks’ turnaround. But here’s how you turn your business around: By finalizing a fair contract that gives union workers the staffing, protections, and wage increases they need,” said Cassie Hu (she/her), a student at University of Washington – Seattle.
Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee provided the following statement:
“It’s disappointing to see Workers United disrupt our stores and undermine the ongoing mediation process for single store contracts. Since last April, Starbucks and Workers United have made significant progress through respectful dialogue and have reached a number of important agreements. Our success starts and ends with our partners (employees) and we’re committed to providing the best job in retail.”
Trouble brewing for Starbucks beyond U.S. borders
Tuesday’s actions come as Starbucks international business practices come under increasing scrutiny. Starbucks baristas in Chile are on strike. U.S. baristas have raised their voices to support Chilean baristas – taking to social media to post messages of support and even traveling to Chile and picketing in solidarity.
Business Insider reported Saturday on new data showing Starbucks avoided taxes on $1.3B in profits via a Swiss subsidiary. And last week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked about a recent report detailing how Starbucks’ Mexican-certified coffee supply chain is plagued by human rights violations, negative environmental impacts, and exploitative practices.
Extra shot of organizing for Starbucks Workers United
Tuesday’s strikes are the latest in an escalating national campaign for fair contacts. On Christmas Eve, baristas went on the largest strike in Starbucks history as 5,000 baristas shut down over 300 stores across the country to call out the company’s unfair labor practices.
In January, Workers United filed more than 90 unfair labor practice charges after the company backtracked on the path forward it agreed to over the future of organizing and collective bargaining. Later that month, Park Slope union baristas waged an unfair labor practice strike alongside elected officials and community allies, several of whom were arrested for engaging in peaceful civil disobedience to protest Starbucks’ failure to bargain with workers over the closure or heed their demands to finalize fair contracts. At the end of January, Starbucks agreed to return to bargaining a foundational framework with a mediator present.
Starbucks Workers United baristas are driving a growing movement of 11,000 Starbucks partners at over 550 stores across 45 states and the District of Columbia. Baristas at over 20 new locations filed NLRB petitions to join Starbucks Workers United in February alone.
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