Behind-the-counter baristas might seem like an unimportant part of the day; an ensemble member or bit part in the cast of the average morning. Barely acknowledged, they take orders, call names, and brew the coffee endlessly guzzled by a constant stream of customers.
But, in Starbucks stores across the nation, those baristas take a stand against the company and make themselves known. A series of strikes against the coffee conglomerate’s treatment of workers are currently underway.
The current strikes follow Starbucks’s refusal to honor the years-long demands of workers asking for better hours, higher take-home pay, and resolutions for unresolved labor law violations from the Starbucks corporation.
The current demands result from long-standing problems within the Starbucks corporation.
“I don’t think there was a time when I first started at Starbucks where I felt like I was always truly being listened to,” said four-year Iowa City barista Abigail Scheppmann. Scheppman began working as a barista in Illinois for three years. Upon her return to the job in Iowa City, she noticed a change in the company.
“Coming back in 2022, it was very clear to me with the expectations that were put on the workers for the low pay that we get that we aren’t valued at all.”
The Iowa City Starbucks strike, which began in early December of 2025, ended on December 24 of 2025, making it the longest strike in the store’s history. While the store re-opened its doors following the strike, the workers are still fighting and encouraging consumer participation to ensure Starbucks meets their demands.
“We started a new campaign called Delete the App,” said Scheppmann, offering one way consumers can help support baristas. “So we’re asking people to delete the Starbucks app from their phone.”
By deleting the app, Starbucks customers affect the company’s revenue while not directly harming the workers.
There are plenty of other ways to support the strikes, too. The Starbucks Workers United website— which provides plenty of useful information on the strikes and how to get involved– encourages consumers to sign the “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge and boycott Starbucks until the workers’ demands are met.
Even though the practices causing the strikes remain, Starbucks workers maintain high morale. For one thing, workers know they have been noticed. With hundreds of stores closed for weeks (if not months), Starbucks cannot remain unaware of the situation.
Many of the strikes have also set records. The Iowa City strike lasted three weeks, making it the longest strike in the store’s history. For workers like Scheppmann, this record is a point of pride.
“It feels good,” Scheppmann said. “My grandpa was a teamster, so he always had a healthy love for striking. I definitely feel that as well.”
And if there is no progress? Then the strikes will continue. But Scheppmann doesn’t worry about that– the community will support the striking baristas no matter what.
“The Union community in Iowa City is always down for a strike, whoever it is,” said Schepmann. “They’re always ready to support someone exercising their rights.”
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