It's one of Starbucks' busiest days of the year, and workers just kicked off a 65

It’s one of Starbucks’ busiest days of the year, and workers just kicked off a 65-store U.S. strike Nation Nov 13, 2025 12:48 PM EST

More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers went on strike at 65 U.S. stores Thursday to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company.

The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink. Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing baristas, said Thursday morning that the strike had already closed some stores and was expected to force more to close later in the day.

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