Lang
12/24/24
Starbucks workers in Iowa City and Davenport are joining an escalating national strike in what they say is a fight against unfair labor practices.
Starbucks Workers United baristas began striking last Friday in three of Starbucks’ largest markets…Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago…with workers in additional locations joining the strike each day since. Workers at the Clinton Street Starbucks in Iowa City and the East 53rd Street location in Davenport are set to strike on Tuesday.
The Iowa City workers will be on the picket lines from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the Davenport workers picketing from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The union says baristas are protesting Starbucks’ failure to bring what they call “viable economic proposals” to the bargaining table and the company’s refusal to resolve hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges.
Iowa City barista Abigail Scheppemann was quoted in an Iowa City Federation of Labor news release as noting Starbucks CEO Brian Niccols has a compensation package of $113 million, while workers are being given raises equivalent to 30 or 50 cents an hour.
The striking baristas are asking customers and community members to join the picket lines to show their support.