Starbucks union baristas to walk out in 40 cities in push for contract talks

(Reuters) -More than 1,000 Starbucks unionized baristas in over 40 U.S. cities launched an open-ended strike on Thursday, the union said, escalating their push for a collective bargaining agreement over pay and other benefits at the coffee giant.

The walkout, which the union said will begin with 65 stores, coincides with Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, a busy holiday sales event that typically drives higher customer visits.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The Starbucks Workers United, representing employees at more than 550 stores in the United States, said it plans rallies at 4 p.m. local time in more than a dozen cities and warned the strike could become the largest and longest in Starbucks’ history.

Stores in cities, including Seattle, New York, Phila