The Brian Lehrer Show The Mayor-Elect Joins the Starbucks Picket Line
Dec 4, 2025
Claudia Irizarry Aponte, a senior reporter covering labor for The City, shares insights on the ongoing labor dispute involving Starbucks in NYC. Rae Shao, a unionized barista with Starbucks Workers United, discusses their experiences on the picket line, highlighting strike logistics and demands for better workplace conditions. They delve into scheduling violations, the significance of a recent $38 million settlement, and the political implications of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders joining the protests, underscoring solidarity in labor movements.
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Massive Scheduling Violations Revealed
- The city found over 500,000 Fair Workweek violations at nearly every NYC Starbucks from 2021–2024.
- Starbucks agreed to a $38 million settlement, with $35 million going to about 15,000 workers.
Settlement Helps Locally, Not Nationwide
- The national strike targets Starbucks' refusal to bargain a collective agreement since 2021.
- The NYC settlement strengthens union leverage but doesn't resolve nationwide bargaining demands.
Barista Explains Why They Struck
- Rae Shao describes joining the strike because Starbucks stalled bargaining and offered no real proposals.
- They demand better pay, scheduling, staffing, and resolution of labor-law violations.