Last-minute holiday shoppers hoping for coffee at the Alpharetta Starbucks were greeted with picket signs instead of holiday cheer. Baristas at the Haynes Bridge Road and North Point Parkway location joined a nationwide strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. They’re pushing for a 64% increase in hourly wages now, aiming for a total 77% hike over the next three years. Georgia is the latest state to join this nine-state protest.
At the Ansley Mall Starbucks, workers shared their frustrations. Nick Julian, a shift supervisor who’s been with Starbucks for six years, explained why employees felt compelled to unionize. He pointed to issues like unpredictable schedules and unstable incomes, problems that led to the creation of the Starbucks Workers United Union. Many baristas began organizing in 2022 after what they saw as poor decisions by the company.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, over 5,000 workers across 300 stores took part in the strike. Starbucks claims the walkouts haven’t disrupted business much, even during the busy holiday season, but the growing movement shows that workers want their voices heard. The union is asking for a 30% raise, while Starbucks has offered less than a 50-cent-per-hour increase for many employees.
Julian also highlighted the stark gap between executive pay and worker wages. While the company’s new CEO earns millions, baristas struggle to get by. “We just want a fair system where we can earn a decent wage,” Julian said. Workers are also pushing for better healthcare benefits and overall recognition for their contributions.
This Starbucks strike is happening alongside Teamster-led protests at Amazon, both demanding fair wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Together, these actions reflect a larger push for companies to treat their employees more fairly.