Starbucks workers at more than 200 locations across the U.S. are staging a one-day walkout Thursday. In what is being dubbed the "Red Cup Rebellion," the walkout coincides with the company's Red Cup Day tradition, when customers receive a reusable holiday-themed red cup with all seasonal drink orders.

Starbucks workers stage walkout at over 200 stores

Workers at roughly 200 Starbucks stores across the country are staging walkouts in what they are calling the Red Cup Rebellion. Red Cup Day is an annual promotion by Starbucks. It was the single highest sales day that they had in 2022 because of it. So employees say they will not work today, citing the two year labor dispute that has yet to provide a new contract for workers. Joining us live from a Starbucks in Atlanta is our national correspondent Mara Sirianni. Mara, there was a walkout last year. I'm curious what will be different about today's? And you told me earlier, maybe 11 o'clock they'd be starting to come out. Have you seen that? I haven't seen that here at this specific location where I am in Atlanta, but we know that at least 200 different stores across the U. S. Unionized Starbucks stores are planning to have their workers walk out today. Actually saw the workers union on Tiktok posting a video a short time ago of some workers at one of the stores walking out. So I know that it is underway at at least some stores last year. I'm in Times Square. One of the stores actually had to close down because they couldn't staff the store that day. So that really is the goal to send a message to the company, right? And you asked what is different about this year because they did this last year. But I want to pull up a statement because Starbucks workers basically say that they feel more empowered this year. That says we are aware. Sorry, that's the workers. Uh, the Starbucks, um, statement that I was reading here. It is that the Red Cup Day is Starbucks quote biggest sales event of the year. Last year, workers went on strike this year on the heels of striking workers across different industries nationwide. Starbucks workers are taking the rebellion to the next level. So again, that was the statement from the Starbucks union workers. So basically, um, you know, they're talking about on the heels of the sag strike in the W. G. A. Strike the United Auto Workers Strike, the Vegas Hotel and Hospitality Workers Strike and U. P. S. Just to name a few. All of those industries and workers in those industries really saw great success when they went to the bargaining table and band together this year. So I think Starbucks is workers are hoping to do the same. Of course, they say, you know, Red Cup Day is the day they're doing this because it's great for the company, but it's really stressful on them. So part of what they want, they're asking for them to suspend mobile odor mobile orders. Excuse me on days like this big promotional days when when it's so busy, they say that's a big stressor. Also, they're asking for the company to basically help them with staffing issues and scheduling shortages. So the company has responded to this, though. If we have that statement now, I want to pull that up. Starbucks kind of fighting back. They say we are aware that Workers United has publicized a day of action at a small subset of stores again, keeping this in perspective only about 200 across the nation here. Workers United hasn't agreed to meet in more than four months, Starbucks says, and has yet to deliver on the campaign promises they've made. So again, we're keeping tabs on this. The workers say that, you know, they've started to walk out at a couple of stores across the nation. I'm not seeing that here in Atlanta, but, um, you know, keep tabs on it, Lauren. Yeah, I mean, it speaks to that. It is 200 stores. It's not gonna be maybe so widespread as we've seen it in the past. But what was a summer of strikes is now for sure a year. National correspondent Marcy Riani reporting. Thank you.

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