Starbucks says it wants union talks, agreements in 2024

A coalition of unions and supporters join Starbucks workers at a rally outside a midtown Manhattan Starbucks coffee store, calling for "fair schedules and wages," Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK: Starbucks Corp has reached out to the union representing hundreds of its stores to try to end an impasse over contract talks, a conflict that has frayed the coffee giant’s relationship with some of its frontline employees.

The chain is looking for talks to resume with a “set of representative stores in January” and is setting a goal of completing “bargaining and the ratification of contracts in 2024,” Starbucks chief partner officer Sara Kelly said in a letter dated Dec 8 addressed to Workers United president Lynne Fox.