Since Thanksgiving weekend, Starbucks workers around the country have been striking in an effort to get better hours and more take-home pay. This movement follows years of boycotts and union struggles, which have soured public opinion of the company. The younger generation has most notably shifted away from Starbucks; what used to be the top choice for snacks after-school is now avoided by large groups of Gen-Z.

Many of Starbucks’ public struggles began two years ago when members of the Starbucks Workers United (SWU), the union affiliated with the Starbucks company, posted a pro-Palestine message on social media, including the company’s logo on the post. Starbucks sued them for trademark infringement, which elicited a wave of controversy over the Starbucks company’s alleged support of Israel. Pro-Palestinian activists called for boycotts, which spread quickly via social media, only fizzling out slightly after the CEO of Starbucks publicized an official statement of neutrality regarding the Middle East conflict.

Recently, however, younger generations have revitalized protests against the company, this time backing SWU against the company’s unfair labor practices. 

These struggles are not new. Starbucks and SWU have a long history of conflict, fueled by the company’s alleged anti-union efforts and refusal to collectively bargain. Since 2023, Starbucks and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have faced off in court eight times over the company’s working conditions, namely retaliatory firings and unlawful policy changes. The NLRB has found Starbucks guilty of committing more than 400 labor law violations. This year alone, SWU filed 36 unfair labor practice suits against the corporation. 

The most recent wave of protests in support of the union began at the University of Houston after the school’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America launched a campaign urging people to stop buying Starbucks products and instead switch to “more ethical coffee shops”. Subsequent boycotts spread across the country via social media. 

Currently, over 7,000 videos on TikTok feature the hashtag “#boycottstarbucks,” garnering over 170 million views. 

The increased publicity of tensions between Starbucks and its union has furthered popular criticism of the company and strengthened many students’—who have historically been the drivers of protests and social justice movements—determination to boycott, especially in large cities like New York. 

“I just don’t want to support their brand and give them even more money,” explained Faiza Sainat (‘28), who has not bought anything from Starbucks in three years in support of both Palestine and SWU.

Many people are now paying closer attention to the company because of their current restructuring plan, which includes closing 34 out of roughly 180 of its locations in New York City. These changes led many students who otherwise would not have cared about labor struggles to take notice of Starbucks’ issues, especially after witnessing the closure of the Starbucks closest to Tech. The plan is also predicted to cause lay-offs for 900 corporate employees nationwide.

The restructuring came after six straight quarters of falling sales for the company, which financial advisors attribute in part to the boycotts, considering that the time period and severity of the sales decline aligns exactly with that of global boycotts in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.

SWU has expressed gratitude for protests against the company, and at the end of 2025, they took the battle one step further. 

After the current strike began in late November, 92% of unionized Starbucks workers voted to take action and protest until the company meets their demands. “If Starbucks keeps stonewalling a fair contract and refusing to end union-busting, they’ll see their business grind to a halt,” said SWU spokesperson Michelle Eisen in a recent press release.

“[The recent legal struggles] show Starbucks really doesn’t care about their workers, and something has to change,” said Janelle D’Haiti (‘28), who firmly supports the strike.

Social studies teacher Mr. Philip Linder, while agreeing with the necessity for employees to stand up for their rights, is more critical of the strike’s chance at causing lasting improvement. 

“Historically, it takes a long time before federal authority comes down on the side of unions,” he said. “The United States government has often been pro-corporation. It all comes back to money at the end of the day.” 

Starbucks is not the only company currently under fire for their treatment of workers. Many corporate giants, such as Target and Amazon, have been exposed for dehumanizing conditions and unfair wages, and Starbucks is only the most recent in a long string of brands to be boycotted.

The current alternative for Tech students is Blank Street Coffee, with 76% of students (out of a poll of fifty) saying they prefer it over Starbucks. Blank Street’s company has acted notably less aggressively to its union than Starbucks has. In the past year, Blank Street has responded to union demands by granting raises and increased paid time off, making it a more ethical company in the eyes of consumers. Despite its global increase in popularity, Blank Street’s locations have maintained the vibe of a cozy local coffeehouse, and it continues to be one of Starbucks’ biggest competitors in New York.