Starbucks baristas, students, elected officials, and allies are planning rallies at over 40 college campuses across the US today, Thursday 15 November 2026. These events support the Starbucks Workers United boycott campaign as the union nears five years of stalled contract negotiations with the company.
Starbucks Workers United is advocating for improved pay and stronger staffing levels, including a $17 an hour minimum wage for baristas and a minimum of three workers per store. The union has called for a public boycott of Starbucks until its first contract is finalised.
More than 700 Starbucks stores have voted to unionise, encompassing over 12,000 baristas. The first Starbucks store unionised in Buffalo, New York, in December 2021. Efforts to pressure Starbucks to negotiate were temporarily paused after an agreement on a path forward in February 2024, but negotiations reportedly broke down following Brian Niccol's appointment as CEO.
A Starbucks spokesperson stated that Workers United represents approximately 5% of its US partners and believes such actions divert attention from bargaining. The company spokesperson also noted that, according to independent research, Starbucks offers competitive pay and benefits, including comprehensive healthcare and tuition coverage.