Seattle baristas strike, occupy store

Joining a wave of actions nationwide, the workers are calling on Starbucks to settle a contract with fair wages, staffing, and workplace protections

SEATTLE, WA (March 12, 2025) — Baristas at the University Way Starbucks in Seattle were joined by community members, students, and customers as they picketed in front of the store on Tuesday, with some workers and supporters ultimately occupying the location. Baristas also held strike actions and sit-ins in Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.

The workers walked out on strike to protest hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice (ULP) charges by their union, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), against the company, which has been repeatedly accused of union-busting. In January alone, 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. While many SBWU ULP charges have been substantiated by the NLRB — as of January 2025, Starbucks has lost 27 of 29 cases decided by the Board, per the union — workers still do not have a first contract.

Partners in Manhattan posing for a photo yesterday during their solidarity sip-in supporting their striking coworkers. Photo: Starbucks Workers United.

“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, a worker 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.”

Per the union, baristas and supporters also held solidarity ‘sip-ins’ at nearly 100 locations coast to coast, raising awareness of the strike action and ongoing fight to secure a first contract.

More than 550 stores have now unionized, including recent victories in Seattle at 1101 Madison and the SODO Reserve in Starbucks’ headquarters. As Starbucks continues to stonewall in negotiations, the workers are escalating their fight for a fair contract in the lead up to the company’s annual shareholder meeting.

Starbucks baristas + allies are occupying the store on University Ave to show $SBUX the urgency of finalizing contracts with the wages, staffing, and protections workers need.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, @Starbucks . We will do what it takes to get you to listen to us! #ToBeAPartner https://t.co/cqvy7uOQ9E

— Washington State SBWU (@WashingtonSBWU) March 11, 2025

Workers are calling on supporters to sign the No Contract, No Coffee pledge to show solidarity with baristas and stay up to date on ways to tap in to future solidarity actions during the ongoing contract fight.