No contract, no coffee: Starbucks workers strike

Citing hundreds of unfair labor practices, baristas are on strike in Starbucks’ home town and dozens more cities around the U.S. 

SEATTLE, WA (November 14, 2025) — The Red Cup Rebellion is on. Over a thousand Starbucks baristas, from New York City to Seattle and Minneapolis to Dallas, hit the strike line yesterday, taking action against hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practices committed by the company. Picket lines are active at 65 stores, and Starbucks Workers United reports more workers are ready to walk out.

“If Starbucks keeps stonewalling a fair contract and refusing to end union-busting, they’ll see their business grind to a halt,” said Michelle Eisen, Starbucks Workers United spokesperson and 15 year veteran barista.

The strike is open-ended, and baristas from more than 550 union stores are committed to making this the biggest strike in the company’s history if Starbucks fails to deliver a fair union contract and resolve unfair labor practice charges.

“Starbucks knows where we stand,” said Eisen. “We’ve been clear and consistent on what baristas need to succeed: more take-home pay, better hours, resolving legal issues. Bring us new proposals that address these issues so we can finalize a contract. Until then, you’ll see us and our allies on the picket line.”

Starbucks Workers United estimates their economic proposals would cost Starbucks less than one average day’s sales. But rather than negotiate, Starbucks has failed to bring a new proposal to the table for more than a year, per the union.

Rally at the shuttered Capitol Hill Roastery on November 13.

As the strike kicked off Thursday, baristas and their allies gathered for a rally outside of the now-shuttered Capitol Hill Roastery, a popular tourist location that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol abruptly closed earlier this year, part of a wave of closures that impacted several union stores in Washington. Baristas have criticized Niccol’s approach to right-siding the company, pointing out that a business built on their labor would probably benefit far more from a focus on ensuring good working conditions that retain and attract dedicated staff.

Niccol, who took over the company’s corporate leadership in 2024, received $96 million in compensation for only a few months work last year, giving Starbucks the dubious distinction of the largest gap between executive and employee pay, with Niccol making 6,666 times more than the average barista. One barista at the Roastery rally noted that Niccol makes more in an hour than they do in a year. No one who has been in a Starbucks during peak hours could think the CEO works 6,666 times harder than the baristas churning out lattes at back-breaking speed.

Fellow union members and leaders from MLK Labor, SEIU 6, SEIU 775, SEIU 925, SEIU 1199NW, Teamsters 117, UFCW 3000, the Washington State Labor Council, and more joined the rally, making sure baristas knew that Washington’s labor movement has their back.

“Starbucks Workers United is the fastest-growing union movement of this century,” said WSLC Secretary Treasurer Cherika Carter. “You are giving hope to millions across this country, showing what’s possible when working people stand up, link arms, and refuse to back down.”

Rally at the shuttered Capitol Hill Roastery on November 13.

Elected officials also showed support, with Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson and the neighborhood’s State Representatives Nicole Macri and Shaun Scott each taking the mic.

As long as workers are on strike, they’re urging fellow working people to respect their picket line and not buy anything from Starbucks.

“No contract, no coffee is more than a tagline—it’s a pledge to interrupt Starbucks operations and profits until a fair union contract and an end to unfair labor practices are won,” said veteran barista Eisen.

That message was heard loud and clear in Seattle’s streets. As the sun set Thursday, more pedestrians walking past the rally called out their support as they walked up Pine from downtown, while passing drivers honked their horns and flashed their lights. Starbucks corporate may be based in the city, but Seattle is once again proving itself to be a union town.

Sign the No Contract, No Coffee pledge and find a picket line to support at NoContractNoCoffee.org