Workers Strike Providence Starbucks “Indefinitely”

Workers Strike Providence Starbucks “Indefinitely”

A group of Starbucks workers has gone on strike indefinitely at the downtown Providence store located in the Financial District.

 

The workers chanted “No Contract, No Coffee.”

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One of the workers told GoLocal that the staff would be on strike as part of a national walkout.

 

This store is the only unionized location in Rhode Island. And, it is one of 650 locations nationally hit by the labor action.

 

The worker said the store is still open but is being staffed by managers. This store has been the site of multiple union actions. 

 

The Thayer Street location recently closed.

 

Workers are demanding better pay and staffing, and for the coffee chain to resolve hundreds of unfair labour practice claims. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol received a compensation package in 2024 of more than $95 million.

 

Starbucks corporate has said the strike affected less than 1% of the chain's shops, adding it had "no impact" on its overall business.

 

The international action will involve hundreds of workers and union supporters, Starbucks Workers United said.

 

The union effort started weeks ago and is expanding.

 

“Over one thousand union baristas kicked off the “Red Cup Rebellion” unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, Nov. 13, protesting Starbucks’ historic union busting and failure to finalize a fair union contract. The open-ended strike comes after six months of Starbucks refusing to offer new proposals to address workers’ demands for better staffing, higher pay, and resolution for hundreds of unfair labor practice charges,” according to Starbucks Workers United.