Starbucks employees in Pittsburgh join nationwide strike

PITTSBURGH — Local Starbucks workers joined thousands of people across the country who are on strike.

Picketers gathered outside of the Starbucks on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield.

This is one of five Starbucks in Pittsburgh where workers were striking on Saturday in the snow.

An organizer said at least three of the stores were closed as a result.

Workers said they are frustrated over stalled labor talks.

“Barista wages are just not enough. The company has the money to be able to pay people what they’re worth and they’re choosing not to,” one picketer said.

The nationwide strike began on Friday with walkouts in Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The plan is for striking to continue through Christmas Eve.

Starbucks issued the following statement on the bargaining sessions. That statement said:

“Workers United delegates prematurely ended our bargaining session this week. It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date. Since April we’ve held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days. We’ve reached over thirty (30) meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them, including many economic issues.

We are focused on enhancing the partner (employee) experience, with over $3 billion invested in the last three years. Starbucks offers a competitive average pay of over $18 per hour, and best-in-class benefits. Taken together they are worth an average of $30 per hour for baristas who work at least 20 hours per week. Benefits include health care, free college tuition, paid family leave and company stock grants. No other retailer offers this kind of comprehensive pay and benefits package.

Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year year contract. This is not sustainable.

We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table.”

They also issued a statement about the strikes happening around the country saying:

“The few disruptions we have experienced this week have had no significant impact to our store operations. Only a small handful of our US stores have been impacted. We respect our partners’ right to engage in lawful strike activity, and we appreciate the thousands of partners across the country who are continuing to support each other and deliver the Starbucks experience for our customers.”

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