Seattle Starbucks baristas walk out as part of nationwide strike over labor practices
Mar 11, 2025, 1:05 PM | Updated: Mar 12, 2025, 11:18 am
Starbucks workers, alongside community allies and former employees, picket in front of a Starbucks located on University Way in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Starbucks Workers United)
(Photo courtesy of Starbucks Workers United)
Baristas at a Seattle Starbucks walked off the job to protest unresolved unfair labor practices, officially going on strike.
The baristas, who worked at a Seattle Starbucks located at 4147 University Way NE, began striking at 11 a.m. Tuesday, joined by community allies and former Starbucks employees. It was one of many nationwide pickets fighting for improved wages, staffing, and protections.
Right now in Seattle:https://t.co/TijgeMRYvh pic.twitter.com/p3gZn0Ar5V
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) March 11, 2025
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“Starbucks baristas have gone on strike, and along with allies + former workers, are occupying the lobbies of multiple stores,” Starbucks Workers United wrote on X. “We didn’t want it to come to this. But if participating in civil disobedience is the only way $SBUX will listen, so be it. CONTRACTS NOW!”
A similar strike and picket occurred at a Starbucks in Chicago, leading to arrests by Chicago Police for those participating. There have been no reports of arrests related to Starbucks protests in Seattle, as of this reporting.
“It’s disappointing to see Workers United disrupt our stores and undermine the ongoing mediation process for single-store contracts,” Starbucks said in a statement responding to the strikes. “Since last April, Starbucks and Workers United have made significant progress through respectful dialogue and have reached a number of important agreements. Our success starts and ends with our partners (employees) and we’re committed to providing the best job in retail.”
This isn’t the first multi-state coordinated strike against Starbucks launched by Starbucks Workers United. University of Washington (UW) students rallied on campus to convince University President Ana Mari Cauce to stop serving Starbucks coffee on campus until the coffee giant settles a fair contract with wages for baristas.
In late December, baristas went on the largest strike in Starbucks history as 5,000 baristas shut down more than 300 stores nationwide, including Seattle.
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“Starbucks workers all over the country are participating in a strong showing of solidarity today,” Starbucks Workers United wrote on X. “Civil disobedience, strikes, solidarity actions, and more are happening at $SBUX locations all over the country. Hear us yet, @Starbucks? ITS TIME TO FINALIZE CONTRACTS NOW.”
According to Starbucks Workers United, Starbucks agreed to return to bargaining a foundational framework with a mediator present.
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, The Reset with Gee Scott. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
