LONG BEACH, CA \u2014 Coffee fans in Long Beach may have trouble taking advantage of Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day Thursday, as baristas in the city are among those who have walked off the job as part of a strike.<\/p>\n
Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents some of the chain’s workers, announced that it would begin a strike Thursday amid a stalemate in contract negotiations with the company.<\/p>\n
Strikes are underway for 65 stores in 41 cities nationwide, with about 1,000 baristas walking off the job as part of what the union has dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion.”<\/p>\n
That includes the Long Beach store at Redondo Avenue and 7th Street.<\/p>\n
Workers at stores in San Diego, Anaheim, Seal Beach, Santa Clarita, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley are also striking. A rally is planned for 4 p.m. Thursday at the Downtown Disney location in Anaheim.<\/p>\n
The union called the action an “open-ended strike” prompted by the coffee giant “refusing to offer new proposals” to address demands such as higher wages, better staffing and alleged unfair labor practices.<\/p>\n
Union officials said the labor action could extend to as many as 550 unionized Starbucks locations nationally.<\/p>\n
The walkout occurred on Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, in which customers who order select holiday beverages receive a free reusable red coffee cup.<\/p>\n