College students rally in support of Starbucks baristas urging boycott over contract impasse
Summary
Starbucks Workers United supporters are holding rallies at more than 40 U.S. college campuses to back a boycott campaign amid a contract impasse with Starbucks. The union is seeking higher pay and stronger staffing, and is urging the public to boycott the company until workers reach their first contract.Key Facts
- More than 700 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize, representing over 12,000 baristas.
- The first Starbucks store to unionize voted in Buffalo, New York, in December 2021; contract negotiations remain unresolved nearly five years later.
- The union is seeking a $17 minimum hourly wage for baristas and at least three workers per store.
- Rallies are planned at public and private universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University and the University of Washington.
- Cornell University and Pomona College did not renew Starbucks contracts, while UCLA stopped offering Starbucks products in its cafes.
- Starbucks said Workers United represents about 5% of its U.S. partners and said the rallies would not cause meaningful disruption.
- Negotiations broke down after Brian Niccol became Starbucks CEO; he previously led Chipotle from 2018 to 2024.
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