Starbucks unionized workers to strike on Thursday, demanding labor contract

Unionized Starbucks workers walked off the job Thursday, launching a 'red cup rebellion' that coincides with the chain’s Red Cup Day giveaway of free reusable holiday cups. Starbucks Workers United, representing more than 9,500 baristas at 550 cafes, says over 65 stores in 40-plus cities began an open-ended strike seeking better pay, staffing and resolution of labor disputes. Starbucks reported minimal disruption, saying less than 1% of its more than 17,000 U.S. coffee houses were affected. Talks that began in April collapsed in December despite 33 tentative, mostly noneconomic, agreements.