Baristas at Starbucks cafes across the country are holding pickets this week as part of a collective push for a union contract, and Phoenix workers are joining in.

Workers at a north Phoenix Starbucks scheduled a rally on Wednesday, Oct. 29, as part of the surge of union actions calling for improved pay, hours and working conditions.

The rally is one of dozens happening across the country this week as Starbucks Workers United begins a strike authorization vote. The union says the vote will determine whether members want to strike if contract talks with Starbucks do not progress.

Workers have been campaigning for the first company-wide union contract for almost three years, but claim Starbucks has delayed or “stonewalled” negotiations. The company previously said it wants to reach store-

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