Union for Starbucks workers says 10-store strike could reach hundreds over holidays

The recent Starbucks strike that continued into Christmas Eve will spread to even more cities across the United States, says the employee union behind the effort. 

Unionized Starbucks employees at about 10 stores began a strike over the company's failure to make progress on contract negotiations with their union, despite the busy holiday season.

Starbucks Workers United said, mor specifically, said the coffeeshop chain has failed to "bring viable economic proposals to the bargaining table and to resolve hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges," and failed to reach a labor agreement with them as promised this year.

The coffee chain says the union is seeking pay hikes that are “not sustainable.”

“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 contract,” Starbucks said in a statement obtainec by The New York Post. “This is not sustainable.”

Starbucks also says the average pay for its workers is over $18 per hour, and combined with benefits is worth more than $30 an hour.

The union also announced this week that franchises in Atlanta, Georgia and Buffalo, New York, would be joining the strike, according to Axios. 

The goal of the strike, the union also said, is to "win fair raises, benefits and staffing, protest unfair labor practices, and resolve outstanding litigation with Starbucks."

The strike has begun in 10 stores so far in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. But the union said the number could surge to hundreds of locations by Christmas Eve next week.