Starbucks Workers United set to vote on strike authorization

Core Points - Starbucks Workers United is initiating a strike authorization vote to secure a contract with Starbucks, alongside planned rallies and pickets across the country [1][2] - The strike authorization voting will last several days, and if approved, the strike will be open-ended, with 70 rallies occurring in 60 cities from Friday through November 1 [2] - The union is not currently in active negotiations with Starbucks, as previous talks collapsed in December 2024, and a proposed economic package was rejected by barista delegates [3] Union Demands - Workers United is advocating for better staffing hours, increased take-home pay, and resolution of outstanding unfair labor practice charges [4] - The union represents over 12,000 workers across more than 650 stores, which is a small fraction of Starbucks' total of over 18,000 locations in North America [4] Company Response - Starbucks claims that Workers United represents only about 4% of its partners and is open to negotiations if the union is willing to return to the bargaining table [6] - The company emphasizes that its hourly partners earn over $30 per hour on average, and it is investing over $500 million to enhance staffing during peak times [6] - Starbucks reports high partner engagement, low turnover rates compared to industry averages, and receives over 1 million job applications annually [6]