On December 4, 2025, Starbucks Workers United held a huge rally outside the Empire State Building in New York City. It was the third week of their open-ended strike, and hundreds of baristas and union supporters showed up. People who were protesting yelled, “No coffee, no contract!” and “What’s disgusting?” “Union busting” is a term that describes demands for better pay, hours, staffing, and the resolution of unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks. During the event, twelve protesters were arrested for blocking the entrance to the building.
The “Red Cup Rebellion” strike started on November 13, 2025, which was Starbucks’ Red Cup Day. It has now affected 145 locations in several cities, making it the longest unfair labor practice strike in the company’s history. Unionized baristas, who work at about 550 stores and represent more than 11,000 workers, turned down Starbucks’ contract offer in April 2025. The offer included at least 2% annual raises, but negotiations have been stalled since late last year. People from the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and NYC leader Zohran Mamdani have joined the picket lines to show their support.
Starbucks says that 99% of its more than 17,000 U.S. stores are still open, and there were no major sales problems during the important holiday season, including a record-breaking Red Cup Day under CEO Brian Niccol. The company said it would spend $500 million on better scheduling technology and staffing. It also settled a $38.9 million violation of the NYC Fair Workweek Law by paying $35 million to more than 15,000 workers for scheduling problems. When the union is ready to talk again, spokesperson Jaci Anderson said they are ready to negotiate.
