Starbucks baristas to rally in North Chesterfield this weekend, begin voting on strike

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Starbucks baristas in the Richmond area are set to rally this weekend in North Chesterfield, joining a national wave of pickets to escalate contract demands for better wages and working conditions.

The move comes as Starbucks Workers United announced Friday, Oct. 24, that union baristas have begun voting on whether to go on strike at union locations next week. The unionized organization represents over 12,000 Starbucks employees at more than 650 stores in the U.S., the release said.

According to a spokesperson, union baristas will picket outside key Starbucks locations in 60 cities to call on Starbucks to return to the negotiating table and address workers' demands.

"Starbucks knows where we stand. They know our demands: more take-home pay, better hours, resolving legal issues. It's time to finalize a contract this fall before the all-important holiday season," said the spokesperson in a release. "We remain ready to negotiate whenever Starbucks is willing to bargain in good faith and offer new proposals that address our demands."

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Richmond area baristas and supporters will mobilize at noon on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2059 Huguenot Road — a Starbucks location in Bon Air.

During contract negotiations last Christmas, Starbucks workers went on a five-day strike outside a Richmond location in an attempt to disrupt the company's operations during one of the busiest times of the year.