Unite sends solidarity to baristas

Unite activists joined thousands of trade unionists from across the world in a day of action supporting US baristas, and telling Starbucks to wake up and smell the coffee. 

In Glasgow, Norwich and London Unite activists gathered in solidarity with US workers as part of the Starbucks Global Day of Action on Wednesday (10 Dec). Outside a central London coffee store Unite sent messages of support to US colleagues.

Last month workers at unionised Starbucks stores across the US went on strike as part of their ongoing campaign against “unfair labor practices” (ULPs) along with demands for better pay and conditions. 

The Starbucks Workers United campaign is called the Red Cup Rebellion after the coffee multinationals annual “Red Cup Day” promotion on 13 November and has been growing in size as more and more Starbucks baristas join, what has become, the longest ULP strike in companies history.

At the last count the Starbucks Workers Union estimated that “3,000 baristas from 145+ stores across 105+ cities are now engaged in the open-ended ULP strike.”

Sabina Aguirre, a striking barista from Columbus, Ohio said. “We know a better future is possible at Starbucks, which is why I’m proud to join the Red Cup Rebellion alongside thousands of my fellow union baristas.

“Baristas are what make Starbucks run. We need the company to stop union busting and finally finalize a fair union contract that improves our pay, hours, and staffing.”

The strikes across the US have seen growing high level support with over 100 US lawmakers urging Starbucks to get back around the table. This has included New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders joining striking Starbucks workers on a Brooklyn picket line on 1 December.

However the dispute is also getting more heated as 12 peaceful strikers were arrested on a picket line outside the coffee company’s corporate headquarters near the Empire State Building last Thursday (4 December). 

It isn’t only Starbucks workers across the US that are in dispute with parts of the company. Unite Hospitality members at the Village Hotel Glasgow, including staff in the Pub & Grill and the franchised Starbucks are in the middle of five weeks of strike action, which started on 28 November 2025 and is planned to run until 2 January 2026.

In words that would resonate with striking members of the Starbucks Workers Union, Unite Hospitality national lead Bryan Simpson said: “Village Hotels in Glasgow continue to treat their hard-working staff across the restaurant, café and guest services with contempt and disdain. Management simply refuses to address the fundamental issues of poor pay and conditions even when the company is raking it in.

“The workers have been left with no option but to take strike action because it appears to be the only way Village Hotels will listen to their legitimate concerns.” 

To find out more about the Red Cup Rebellion go to the Starbucks Workers Union page.

For more on Unite Hospitality go to their page here. 

More photos from the London action below.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Mark Thomas