(Bloomberg) -- A Starbucks Corp. strike of unionized baristas has spread to three more cities in the US, disrupting service during the final days of the crucial holiday season.
Baristas from Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh will join strikes that began on Friday in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle, according to a union statement.
Starbucks employees from additional cities will join the strike each day until Dec. 24 unless the company honors its February commitment to resolve unfair labor practices, the union added.
Starbucks Workers United planned the action to coincide with the days leading up to Christmas Eve. It’s an important time for Starbucks as shoppers treat themselves to lattes while finishing up their holiday shopping. In addition to beverages, the company sells a large volume of gift cards during the year’s final months.
The strikes were sparked by a breakdown in final-stage talks between the union and company leadership, according to the union, which represents employees at more than 500 company-operated Starbucks stores around the US. Starbucks Workers United said the coffee chain offered a package that included no immediate pay raises for its members.
Workers have said that many stores lack adequate staffing, making it difficult to handle the complicated orders coming through the Starbucks mobile app.
--With assistance from Yi Wei Wong and Tonya Garcia.
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