Starbucks worker strike expands to Central Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT)—More than 5,000 Starbucks baristas are off the job and on the picket line, including in our area.

The strike impacts more than 300 stores as the company’s busy holiday stretch continues.

“Starbucks came to the table with a bad offer this week, and they are not taking our contract negotiations seriously at the table. I am a national bargaining delegate for the union, and I see firsthand the offers Starbucks pretends are suitable for our union,” said Dillon Dix, National Barging Delegate, Starbucks Workers United.

Hundreds of stores in at least 45 states are now impacted, with five stores in central Virginia joining the picket line.

“What we call might be surface bargaining what they are doing. We’ve been asking them to give us proposals that are actually considerable to the proposals we’ve given them and Starbucks is not really returning,” said Dix.

This left many of them to close their doors during the holidays.

Managers at local stores are working to keep them open, but those on strike are pushing to close them down completely.

“A lot of stores are shut down, and I think we are really showing the company that we are strong and that we are here to take a stand,” said strike Captain Jazzy Mueller.

“You know we are asking for a livable wage for baristas who work tirelessly, long hours of understaffing. We want equal staffing in our stores that is representative of the needs of the customers; we’re asking for better benefits for the baristas who are working to survive on this job. And we are asking for respect from management that we have not gotten,” said Dix.

There are ways for those who want to support them during this time.

“If you go online to the Starbucks union website, you can find all the different union stores in your area. So I think specifically coming to the unionized stores really does help,” said Barista Lou Steckman, Barista.

Starbucks executive vice president says, “The union chose to walk away from bargaining last week. We are ready to continue negotiations when the union comes back to the bargaining table.”

“We are a nationwide movement of many, many baristas. This is our strongest show of solidarity yet, and we’re absolutely ready to give it more to the company to do whatever it takes to get our contract,” said Dix.

No Starbucks locations in our area were closed due to these strikes. For more ways to support them, head over to their website.