Starbucks Workers United Calls for Boycott Over Contract Dispute

Starbucks Workers United called for a public boycott of Starbucks on August 25, 2026, as the company launched its fall menu. Approximately 12,000 workers are participating in the action, citing the company's refusal to finalize a union contract and hundreds of labor violations identified by the National Labor Relations Board.

The union's demands include a minimum wage of $17 per hour, 4% annual raises, and guaranteed minimum staffing of three employees per store. They are also seeking priority hours for existing staff over new hires and basic workplace protections. The National Labor Relations Board has previously identified violations including illegal surveillance and the firing of workers involved in organizing.

Union representatives argue that corporate greed has left wages unable to keep pace with rising living costs, contrasting these conditions with the $25.5 billion in profits Starbucks reported in 2025.