Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Santa Cruz Starbucks Workers Picket at Mission Street Store as Nationwide Strike Begins
On November 13, Starbucks workers from multiple stores in the Santa Cruz area held a rally and picket at the Mission Street location to begin a nationwide unfair labor practice strike launched by over one thousand baristas who are union members with Starbucks Workers United (SBWU). Workers are protesting what they call Starbucks’ "historic union busting," as well as the company's failure to finalize a fair union contract. They are demanding better staffing, higher pay, and the resolution of, "hundreds of unfair labor practice charges," according to a press release issued by SBWU. There is no end-date to the strike, and union members are asking the public not to patronize any Starbucks store, or buy any Starbucks products, until they receive a fair contract.
Workers at the rally said there were service disruptions at multiple Starbucks stores in Santa Cruz County due to union members' participation in the strike.
A paper flyer taped to the front door of the Mission Street store read, "Our Store is Temporarily Closed." It informed customers that the business was, "working to re-open our store as quickly as possible."
Striking workers have stated that Starbucks management has been stonewalling them for over six months, and has not put forth any new proposals to meet the union's demands.
The spirited rally was attended by members of a variety of Santa Cruz area unions and labor organizations, in addition to community allies. Speakers included Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.
Starbucks workers and supporters held picket signs with messages such as "No Contract, No Coffee," "Don't Cross Our Picket Line," and "Red Cup Rebellion." For several years, SBWU union members have organized "Red Cup Rebellion" protests on Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day, when the company offers customers a free, reusable red cup if they purchase certain holiday drinks. This year, Red Cup Day was November 13, hence the reason for that date being the first day of the strike.
Presently, there are five unionized Starbucks stores in Santa Cruz County. In May of 2022, the Mission Street store and the Ocean Street store were the first two Starbucks locations in California to unionize. The Ocean Street store, however, was shuttered on September 27 of this year when Starbucks suddenly and unexpectedly closed approximately 1% of its stores that the company said were underperforming for various reasons.
To support striking Starbucks workers, see:
* Starbucks Workers United website: https://sbworkersunited.org/
* No Contract, No Coffee (SBWU strike website): https://www.nocontractnocoffee.org/
A paper flyer taped to the front door of the Mission Street store read, "Our Store is Temporarily Closed." It informed customers that the business was, "working to re-open our store as quickly as possible."
Striking workers have stated that Starbucks management has been stonewalling them for over six months, and has not put forth any new proposals to meet the union's demands.
The spirited rally was attended by members of a variety of Santa Cruz area unions and labor organizations, in addition to community allies. Speakers included Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.
Starbucks workers and supporters held picket signs with messages such as "No Contract, No Coffee," "Don't Cross Our Picket Line," and "Red Cup Rebellion." For several years, SBWU union members have organized "Red Cup Rebellion" protests on Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day, when the company offers customers a free, reusable red cup if they purchase certain holiday drinks. This year, Red Cup Day was November 13, hence the reason for that date being the first day of the strike.
Presently, there are five unionized Starbucks stores in Santa Cruz County. In May of 2022, the Mission Street store and the Ocean Street store were the first two Starbucks locations in California to unionize. The Ocean Street store, however, was shuttered on September 27 of this year when Starbucks suddenly and unexpectedly closed approximately 1% of its stores that the company said were underperforming for various reasons.
To support striking Starbucks workers, see:
* Starbucks Workers United website: https://sbworkersunited.org/
* No Contract, No Coffee (SBWU strike website): https://www.nocontractnocoffee.org/
For more information:
https://alexdarocy.com/
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Thank you Alex,
I have always appreciated your good work and am glad you are still there.
I hope you don't mind me sharing parts of this widely.
Meanwhile, I am starting some new things and hope to share some ideas and resources I have developed now that I am housed again. It was actually easier to be homeless while I traveled from city to city, and I've learned much more than I have been able to type. It is like a huge, blown up distortion of "On the Road" by Kerouac, who was my hero at the start of this journey, but no, I value the rest of my years too much to speed this up with a bottle of pills and a roll of fishwrap, which was his modus.
Kerouac did indeed arrive at his mother's house to write about his travels back and forth across the country in cars, but it did not take him 20 years. I am sorry, but my car was destroyed by thugs involved with my criminal in-laws when I left for California. Good Bye automobile.
Sorry to be so verbose, but hopefully it's amusing.
Yes, I have a few original items on indyradio (about COINTELPRO and the NYT), but the big deal is still in the frying pan.
Cheers,
Dave
I have always appreciated your good work and am glad you are still there.
I hope you don't mind me sharing parts of this widely.
Meanwhile, I am starting some new things and hope to share some ideas and resources I have developed now that I am housed again. It was actually easier to be homeless while I traveled from city to city, and I've learned much more than I have been able to type. It is like a huge, blown up distortion of "On the Road" by Kerouac, who was my hero at the start of this journey, but no, I value the rest of my years too much to speed this up with a bottle of pills and a roll of fishwrap, which was his modus.
Kerouac did indeed arrive at his mother's house to write about his travels back and forth across the country in cars, but it did not take him 20 years. I am sorry, but my car was destroyed by thugs involved with my criminal in-laws when I left for California. Good Bye automobile.
Sorry to be so verbose, but hopefully it's amusing.
Yes, I have a few original items on indyradio (about COINTELPRO and the NYT), but the big deal is still in the frying pan.
Cheers,
Dave
For more information:
https://indyradio.net
On Thursday, New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani wrote online, “While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us. Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee.”
For more information:
http://nyc.indynet.co/index.php/2025/11/15...
I checked on the Scotts Valley Starbucks store on Mount Hermon Road when I was in the area today, and that store was closed at 4pm, with the same "Temporarily Closed" announcement posted.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$60.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network