Starbucks workers' union votes to authorize strike

Thousands of Starbucks baristas at hundreds of stores nationwide have voted to authorize a strike as their union seeks a contract with the coffee company.

On Tuesday morning, Starbucks Workers United, the union representing baristas, announced that 98% of union members voted in favor of a strike "if necessary" to secure fair raises, benefits, and staffing, as well as to protest unfair labor practices and resolve ongoing litigation with the company.

The vote does not mean workers will go on strike immediately.

The union is still meeting with the company during the last scheduled bargaining session of the year.

Starbucks Workers United represents 11,000 baristas at more than 525 U.S. stores.

Late Tuesday morning, Starbucks released this statement: 

"It is disappointing that the union is considering a strike rather than focusing on what have been extremely productive negotiations. Since April we’ve scheduled and attended more than eight multi-day bargaining sessions where we’ve reached thirty meaningful agreements on dozens of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.

We remain committed to working together and committed to reaching a final framework agreement. This is our goal. If the delegates want to serve the partners they represent, they need to continue the work of negotiating an agreement.

Starbucks offers competitive pay and best in class benefits that together are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas. Our industry leading benefits are available to partners who work as little as 20 hours per week. They include health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants. No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package."

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