Investing.com– A Starbucks (NASDAQ 🙂) workers union representing more than 10,000 workers said it will go on strike in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle starting Friday, and that the strike will last at least until Christmas.
Workers United said in a social media post that strikes will begin starting Friday morning and “intensify each day until Christmas Eve,” citing lawsuits over unfair labor practices. The union seeks a fundamental framework for better working conditions and salaries.
The move comes after Workers United members voted to authorize a strike earlier this week, amid little progress in negotiations with Starbucks management over workers’ demands.
More than 500 corporate-owned Starbucks stores unionized in the past three years.
This week’s strike heralds more headwinds for Starbucks, which has been struggling with weakened demand and higher expenses for the past two years.
The company appointed transformation man Brain Niccol as its new CEO earlier this year. Niccol, who is credited with helping revitalize the fast food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:), had continued negotiations with the unions.