The Starbucks strike expands, with 10,000 baristas walking out of the store on Christmas Eve

The Starbucks strike expands, with 10,000 baristas walking out of the store on Christmas Eve

The union representing Starbucks baristas said Tuesday that the strike against the java giant had spread to more than 300 locations – with about 10,000 coffeehouse workers walking off their jobs on Christmas Eve.

Baristas in more than 50 cities, including New York, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago, have been on the strike line since Friday demanding better wages and working conditions.

The extent to which the work stoppage has damaged Starbucks’ business is unclear.

Starbucks baristas demonstrate in front of a coffeehouse in New York City on Monday. Getty Images

According to company documents cited by The New York Times, a typical company-owned Starbucks location in the United States generates between $4,000 and $8,000 on a typical business day.

According to the Times, that number is even higher during the holiday season.

The strike is scheduled to end on Tuesday and workers must report to their stores on Christmas Day.

Earlier this week, Starbucks said the disruption caused by the strike had not had a significant impact on its operations, with only a small handful of U.S. stores affected.

The Post has reached out to Starbucks and the union for comment.

Starbucks Workers United, the union that launched the strike, represents workers at more than 500 company-owned stores – about 5% of all stores operating in the United States.

Workers demand higher wages. The strike has spread to dozens of cities and more than 300 stores. Getty Images

In total, Starbucks, based in Seattle, operates more than 11,000 stores in the USA and employs around 200,000 people.

The company has so far rejected the unions’ demands as excessive.

“Workers United’s proposals call for an immediate 64% increase in the minimum wage for hourly associates and 77% over the life of a three-year contract,” Starbucks said over the weekend.

“This is not sustainable,” the coffee chain said.

Seattle-based Starbucks operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States and employs approximately 200,000 people. Getty Images

Talks between Starbucks and the union reached an impasse over unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. This month it said it had held more than eight negotiating sessions, during which 30 agreements were reached.

According to Starbucks, the average wage of its employees is currently over $18 per hour and, with benefits, totals more than $30 per hour.

“We stand ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements,” the company added. “We need the union to come back to the table.”

With post wires

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