Starbucks baristas escalate strike on Black Friday

Labor Dispute - Starbucks Workers United strike enters its third week, the longest since 2021, involving over 120 stores in 85+ cities and 200+ baristas [1] - The union represents 11,000 workers at 550 stores and threatens the largest and longest strike in its history, seeking improved hours, higher wages, and resolution of unfair labor practice charges [1][2] - Negotiations between Starbucks and the union have stalled since late last year [2] Company Response - Starbucks states 9% of its 17,000 US locations remain open and anticipates no meaningful disruption during the holiday season [3] - Starbucks claims readiness to negotiate when the union returns to the bargaining table [3] Business Impact - Starbucks reports strong holiday sales, with the best sales day ever when launching its holiday menu and the strongest Red Cup Day in store history [5] - The company indicates the strike has had minimal impact on sales, representing less than 1% of its total store count [4] Future Outlook - The potential exists for the strike to escalate, given 550 unionized stores across the country [6] - The situation remains ongoing for four years, with the union seeking a contract [6]