THE STARBUCKS UNION COSPLAY. Coffee, Contracts, and Chaos

Starbucks Workers United is not the blueprint for revitalizing organized labor; it’s a cautionary tale.

The movement’s activist tilt, high turnover, and disruptive but low-yield strikes do more than inconvenience customers — they risk undermining the credibility of unions across the country. Mature labor organizations are right to keep SBWU at arm’s length, and the broader labor movement should think hard before letting politically driven organizers turn coffee shops into Trojan horses for agendas far removed from genuine workplace improvement.

The Cost of Frivolous Strikes
SBWU’s actions — from “Red Cup Rebellions” to scattered holiday walkouts — have created more friction than results:
Customer Disruption: Alienates patrons, especially in communities where jobs are already above market rate.
Co-Worker Backlash: Non-participating baristas often shoulder extra shifts or deal with hostile customers during protest events.
Brand Dilution for Labor: Every high-drama, low-gain strike feeds the narrative that unions are disruptive, self-indulgent, and ineffective — making it harder for serious campaigns in other sectors to win public trust.