Red Cup Day Walkouts: Strikes Planned at Starbucks in 41 Cities — What Customers Need to Know

Starbucks Workers United has planned strikes at stores in 41 cities to coincide with Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day on Thursday, Nov. 13. The union said rallies will be held at several participating locations from 4 to 5 p.m. local time; a map and rally details are available at nocontractnocoffee.org. The union did not publish exact store addresses.

Where and when

The union listed the following cities where stores are expected to be affected. Customers should check local rally information if they plan to visit a nearby Starbucks on Nov. 13.

• Anaheim, California
• Long Beach, California
• San Diego, California
• Santa Clarita, California
• Santa Cruz, California
• Scotts Valley, California
• Seal Beach, California
• Soquel, California
• Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Lafayette, Colorado
• Des Plaines, Illinois
• Evanston, Illinois
• Geneva, Illinois
• Alpharetta, Georgia
• Roswell, Georgia
• Chanhassen, Minnesota
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Saint Louis, Missouri
• Brooklyn, New York
• New York, New York
• Columbus, Ohio
• Lewis Center, Ohio
• Reynoldsburg, Ohio
• Upper Arlington, Ohio
• Worthington, Ohio
• Beaverton, Oregon
• Damascus, Oregon
• Eugene, Oregon
• Gresham, Oregon
• Portland, Oregon
• Dickson City, Pennsylvania
• Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Dallas, Texas
• Denton, Texas
• Farmers Branch, Texas
• Richmond, Virginia
• Mechanicsville, Virginia
• Redmond, Washington
• Seattle, Washington

Why the strikes are happening

Starbucks Workers United says the walkouts are a response to stalled contract talks that began in early 2024. The union's stated core demands are:

• Better scheduling and predictable hours
• Higher take-home pay
• Remedies for alleged unfair labor practices

The union describes the action as open-ended and says baristas across more than 550 currently unionized stores are prepared to escalate until they consider a fair contract achieved.

Statements from both sides

Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks Workers United spokesperson and 15-year barista, told USA TODAY: "With no set end date to the strike, baristas ... are prepared to continue escalating to make this the largest, longest strike in company history if Starbucks fails to deliver a fair union contract and resolve unfair labor practice charges."

Jaci Anderson, a Starbucks spokesperson, told USA TODAY the "overwhelming majority" of stores are expected to stay open on Red Cup Day and said the company is "disappointed that Workers United, who only represents around 4% of our partners, has voted to authorize a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table."

Background

The union movement at Starbucks began when the first store unionized in Buffalo, New York, in December 2021. By November 2023 more than 200 stores took part in the first "Red Cup Rebellion," and union organizers say roughly 500 Starbucks locations had unionized by late 2024. Bargaining over a national contract has continued through 2024 and remains unresolved.

What customers should do

Starbucks says most stores should remain open and serve customers as normal on Nov. 13, but some locations in the cities listed above could have reduced staff, altered hours or rallies during the 4–5 p.m. window. Customers planning a visit should:

• Check the union's rally map at nocontractnocoffee.org for local details
• Contact your local store directly for hours and service updates
• Allow extra time and consider alternative locations if you need to be served quickly

This report synthesizes statements from Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United and reports publicly released by the union. For more details about specific rallies, consult the union's website or local news coverage.