In Letter to Starbucks CEO, Senator Murray Urges Starbucks to Negotiate with Starbucks Workers United and Ahead of Upcoming Strike

Murray: "I ask that Starbucks return to the table to negotiate in good faith, so that the workers at the 655 unionized stores, including 38 stores in Washington, can realize their first collective bargaining agreement… I look forward to a serious agreement that provides the over 12,000 unionized Starbucks workers across the country with fair pay and working conditions."

Starbucks workers are set to begin nationwide strike tomorrow on Red Cup Day-one of Starbucks' biggest sales days of the year

In 2023 at a Congressional hearing, Murray pressed former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on the company's anti-union efforts-MORE HERE

***LETTER HERE***

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to Brian Niccol, CEO of the Starbucks Corporation, urging Starbucks to return to the negotiating table and negotiate in good faith with Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), the union representing Starbucks workers. The letter comes ahead of a nationwide strike set to begin tomorrow-Thursday, November 13^th-to coincide with Starbucks' "Red Cup Day" promotion, which is one of Starbucks' biggest sales days of the year.

Starbucks' workers' fight for union recognition began with the first Starbucks location's unionization vote in 2021. During Starbucks Workers United's organizing drive, the union filed more than 1,000 unfair labor practice charges against the company. Contract negotiations have been ongoing since earlier this year, when union delegates rejected the company's contract offer, citing the fact that it didn't contain wage increases and benefits that they had asked for in negotiations. Since April, Starbucks has not provided the union with a new contract proposal. Following this six-month wait, 92 percent of the union's members voted earlier this month to authorize the open-ended strike set to begin November 13^th.

"I write to you today regarding the status of collective bargaining negotiations between Starbucks Corporation (Starbucks) and Starbucks Workers United (SBWU)," Murray wrote in her letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol. "I was cautiously optimistic that Starbucks and SWU would come to an agreement following the February 27, 2024 announcement that the company and union had agreed to a 'Path Forward' on negotiations. However, more than a year and a half later, a completed collective bargaining agreement has yet to be finalized. I ask that Starbucks return to the table to negotiate in good faith, so that the workers at the 655 unionized stores, including 38 stores in Washington, can realize their first collective bargaining agreement."

Murray continued, "Reports indicate that while the parties have made progress on negotiations-reaching 33 tentative agreements-these negotiations have largely stalled with no agreement on compensation nor on resolving the outstanding unfair labor practice charges. Throughout this period, I've heard from constituents, who exercised their right to come together to advocate for better pay and safe working conditions. The urgency of continuing negotiations has only become greater with the November 5, 2025 announcement of SBWU successful strike authorization vote ahead of the holiday season."

Murray concluded her letter by urging Mr. Niccol to negotiate in good faith with Starbucks Workers United to come to a completed collective bargaining agreement: "I believe that the time to come to an agreement has long passed and urge you to immediately come to the table. I look forward to a serious agreement that provides the over 12,000 unionized Starbucks workers across the country with fair pay and working conditions."

Senator Murray has been a leading champion of workers' rights and the right to organize throughout her Senate career, including while serving as the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee from 2015-2022. In 2023 at a HELP Committee hearing, Senator Murray pressed former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on his company's anti-union efforts, raising troubling reports from Starbucks workers and making clear that federal labor laws are not optional. Senator Murray helped author and introduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in the 116^th Congress, and she's helped reintroduce the legislation in every successive Congress, including most recently this past May. The PRO Act is comprehensive legislation to protect workers' right to come together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Among many other pieces of pro-worker legislation, Murray also leads the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act to combat wage discrimination and help close the pay gap, and has helped lead the fight for paid family and medical leave since she first joined Congress.

Importantly, Senator Murray has also long supported the vital work of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). As HELP Chair, Murray led the efforts to confirm a historic pro-worker majority to the NLRB under President Biden, and secured the confirmation of former NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo. In January, Senator Murray forcefully condemned President Trump's illegal firing of NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox and the firing of Jennifer Abruzzo.

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Mr. Niccol,

I write to you today regarding the status of collective bargaining negotiations between Starbucks Corporation (Starbucks) and Starbucks Workers United (SBWU). I was cautiously optimistic that Starbucks and SBWU would come to an agreement following the February 27, 2024 announcement that the company and union had agreed to a "Path Forward" on negotiations. However, more than a year and a half later, a completed collective bargaining agreement has yet to be finalized. I ask that Starbucks return to the table to negotiate in good faith, so that the workers at the 655 unionized stores, including 38 stores in Washington, can realize their first collective bargaining agreement.

The fight for union recognition began almost four years ago with the first Starbucks location's unionization vote in 2021. During its organizing drive, the union filed more than 1,000 unfair labor practice charges against the company. Reports indicate that while the parties have made progress on negotiations-reaching 33 tentative agreements-these negotiations have stalled with no agreement on compensation nor on resolving the outstanding unfair labor practice charges. Throughout this period, I've heard from constituents, who exercised their right to come together to advocate for better pay and safe working conditions. The urgency of continuing negotiations has only become greater with the November 5, 2025 announcement of SBWU successful strike authorization vote ahead of the holiday season.

I believe that the time to come to an agreement has long passed and urge you to immediately come to the table. I look forward to a serious agreement that provides over 12,000 unionized Starbucks workers across the country with fair pay and working conditions. I appreciate your timely consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

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