Baristas at the Starbucks on 53rd Street in Davenport and South Clinton Street in Iowa City are going on strike Tuesday, Dec. 24th, hoping to secure a contract by the end of the year.
The strike is part of labor activities kicked off Friday, Dec. 21st, by Starbucks Workers United in Seattle, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Union member Alexis Miller, who’s worked six years for the coffee shop in Davenport, says the company offered raises that were less than years prior. "And it doesn't even match with inflation. So we're only going to be making, you know, 30, 40 cents, maybe more in the coming year than we have been. So definitely not acceptable.”
Iowa City Starbucks union member Abigal Scheppmann says the Christmas Eve strike comes after higher management promised a fair contract in February by the end of the year. "We have been to the bargaining table a few times; it’s just economic policies that we’re hung up on. Starbucks isn’t offering a good raise, definitely not one that meets inflation standards, so we’re waiting on that.”
Quad City Federation of Labor President Dan Gosa says it is important for customers not to cross the picket line. “...People are out there fighting for better wages and better living conditions. And things like that, just a better all-around way of life. And when people cross that, you're kind of basically stepping on those folks, saying that you don't think that they deserve that. And in this day and age, a lot more people are standing up, standing together, showing solidarity."
Miller says food delivery services like Door Dash and Uber Eats are increasing their workload. "We're expected to do all of these things with basically less hours, less people on the floor. And the job has just become harder because of that," Miller said. She says the $15 minimum wage and paid maternity and paternity leave was only possible because of union efforts.
NPR received a statement from Starbucks that read in part, "The public conversation may lack the important context that the vast majority of our stores (97-99%) will continue to operate and serve customers, and we expect a very limited impact to our overall operations," Executive Vice President Sara Kelly said in a statement sent Monday.
Gosa says he commends the Starbucks Workers United union in their efforts to receive a fair contract. "[E]specially, you know, for the little pay that they get. And then they're going to walk out for that day. And obviously, they're not making wages because they're out on strike. So it's going to be a little bit hard on them, especially doing it on Christmas Eve, right before Christmas. So I commend them, I applaud them. I think it is a great thing, and I hope more stores wake up to this and start getting on board with this and trying to unionize some of the other stores in the Quad Cities."
The Iowa Starbucks Workers United union members have started a GoFundMe drive to cover lost wages from striking.
The strike is ongoing until 2 p.m.
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