Posted on 11/14/2025 5:36:09 AM PST by Red Badger
Labor unrest is becoming a tradition at the leftist coffee chain Starbucks.
On Thursday, as the Seattle-based business launched its “Red Cup Day” — its most anticipated promotion of the year, meant to kick off the holiday season — its unionized workers were trying to spoil the occasion.
Strikes were planned in more than 40 cities, according to news reports, which could get in the way of customers enjoying their Sugar Cookie Lattes.
“We’re turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion,” Amos Hall, a barista at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Starbucks, told ABC News.
“Starbucks’ refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action.”
Starbucks Workers United is a union that claims to represent 12,000 Starbucks employees — the company puts the number at 9,500.
The union has targeted the Starbucks “Red Cup Day” promotion for work stoppages since 2022, a year after the first shops organized.
And the timing of the strikes, of course, is no accident.
“The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year,” The Associated Press reported, putting the number of cities affected at 45.
“Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink.”
The promotion traditionally brings a crush of business for the baristas to handle.
“The limited-edition cup draws out countless Starbucks customers eager for that year’s holiday collectible item,” as USA Today reported.
Holiday controversy is also something of a tradition for the company, with its famously — or infamously — liberal culture. (That culture isn’t just evident on holidays.)
Why should labor relations be any different?
The company and the union have been negotiating since February 2024 over a “foundational framework” for a collective bargaining agreement, according to ABC.
Starbucks spokeswoman Jaci Anderson told ABC in a statement that the “Red Cup Day” strike was an unnecessary union action.
“We are disappointed that Workers United, who only represents around 4 percent of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table,” the statement said, according to ABC.
“When they’re ready to come back, we’re ready to talk.”
UPDATE, Nov. 13, 2025: In an email statment sent to The Western Journal after the publication of this report, Starbucks representative Jaci Anderson downplayed any impact by the strike on the chain, its customers, or the “Red Cup Day” promotion:
“Less than 1% of our coffeehouses are experiencing any level of disruption and the vast majority of our 240,000 partners came to work ready to serve customers and celebrate Reuseable Red Cup Day. The day is off to an incredible start – based on what we’ve seen this morning, we’re on track to exceed our sales expectations for the day across company-operated coffeehouses in North America. In the event a coffeehouse experiences a temporary closure as a result of Workers United’s actions, there will be stores nearby open and ready to serve customers – we have plenty of Red Cups to give away and are excited to have a great day with our customers,” the statement said.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
They have automated coffee machines that can make your cappucino is half the time.
They’re going to strike themselves right out of a job just like the WGA and SAG in Hollywood. Starbucks is a luxury that people may stop getting if its not available for a period of time.
This is almost as funny as DNC employees freaking out that they have been told by management they must RTO, Return To Office, and quit “working” from home.
“Starbucks is a luxury that people may stop getting if its not available for a period of time.”
Starbucks is a luxury that people WILL stop getting if its COST goes up due to UNION WAGE DEMANDS...................
America runs on Dunkin.
America runs TO Dunkin!..........................
And Krispy Kreme here in The South!.....................
Nothing inherently wrong about unions. It’s a free country. The problem is that it’s not a level playing field. You want to strike? Then go ahead. But then the employer should have the right to permanently replace you.
Many states make it illegal to permanently replace striking workers. That’s why it’s not a level playing field.
Labor unrest is becoming a tradition with the leftist.
Like McDonald workers in Ca getting $20,00 an hour and call it inflation making the cost of things go up.
Oops. Post #9 was supposed to go to you.
You betcha!
That said, this year I started making our pumpkin spice lattes. My recipe uses my homemade pumpkin butter for flavoring and a hint of sweetness. We got a little Bialetti for brewing espresso. Delicious, healthier, saves money.
Note to Dunkin...
We love our local franchise. They are awesome and always have been.
But on road trips we’ve noticed more and more that not all franchises are as well run. Please don’t make us start toting a huge vacuum flask.
Never liked their coffee.
In today’s me first mentality, I predict when the younger crowd goes to their regular Starbucks and they can’t purchase their overpriced coffee, because the workers are on strike, they will turn on the workers, regardless of the validity of the strike.
Like others have said, machines can make coffee with minimal human intervention, making their jobs more and more replaceable.
Unions suck. Especially crybaby liberal unions. But hey! They keep their chimpanzees in line.
A lady in the town I used to live in Arizona used to come into McDonalds to get her morning cup of coffee. She’d get the coffee and dump it in her Starbuck’s cup and head off to work. I guess she didn’t like the taste of Starbuck’s expensive monkey dung.
So a monopoly on labor isn’t “inherently” wrong? Do you consider yourself a practicing capitalist? Just wow.
Well, Starbucks does have better CUPS.............
couldn’t happen to a more deserving company!
embrace the suck you created!
:o)
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