Starbucks workers at the 519 Main Street location in Evanston, Illinois, initiated a four-day strike on Friday, joining a larger labor movement against the coffeehouse chain. The store was temporarily closed on Friday morning due to the action.
Starbucks workers on strike picket outside the Starbucks Main Street location in Evanston, Illinois.
The strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, is expected to last through Christmas Eve, with baristas scheduled to return to work on Christmas Day. This demonstration is part of a coordinated effort also involving Starbucks stores in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Connor Brennan, a barista at the Main Street Starbucks and participant in the strike, indicated the possibility of further labor actions. Brennan stated that the strike “could spread to other Starbucks locations in Evanston if Starbucks keeps stalling negotiations, as they do right now.” He explained that the union is advocating for “better wages, benefits and to remedy insufficient staffing minimums as well as guaranteed hours” for employees.
Connor Brennan, a Starbucks barista and union member, participates in the strike at the Main Street Starbucks in Evanston.
In response to the strike, Starbucks stated early Friday that they observed “no significant impact” on their overall operations. The company acknowledged “disruption at a small handful of stores,” but claimed that “the overwhelming majority of our U.S. stores remain open and serving customers as normal,” as reported by the AP. Starbucks also accused the union of prematurely ending a recent bargaining session and affirmed their readiness to continue negotiations to reach agreements.
The Starbucks at 519 Main Street has a history of labor activism. Workers at this location previously filed to unionize in 2022 and conducted a one-day strike in March 2023 as part of a nationwide effort.
