How Did the Roaster Coffee Closure Trigger These Protests?

Starbucks launched a $1 billion restructuring plan that closed hundreds of underperforming company-operated stores across North America, including its first Roastery in Seattle's Capitol Hill and the nearby SoDo store. The closures brought mass layoffs: union data shows 59 unionized US stores were permanently shut, and 369 people in Washington State face permanent layoffs. Baristas and union members gathered outside the Seattle headquarters to protest.

Laid-off workers said they learned of their job losses through a five-minute pre-recorded phone call and social media, with no transfer or relocation offers. New York City regulators have also flagged suspected labor law violations, and the union says it may expand actions or strike if demands go unaddressed, escalating the labor dispute.

Starbucks recently implemented a $1 billion restructuring plan, closing hundreds of underperforming company-operated stores in North America, which has triggered a wave of mass layoffs. In front of the global headquarters in Seattle's SoDo district, baristas and union members gathered to protest, holding up signs to express their strong dissatisfaction with the company's decisions. Laid-off employees said they only learned of their job losses through pre-recorded phone calls and social media, without being offered any transfer opportunities. Union data shows that 59 unionized stores across the United States were permanently closed in this round of adjustments, and 369 people in Washington State face permanent layoffs. Meanwhile, New York City regulators also pointed out that Starbucks is suspected of violating labor laws. This labor-management conflict is continuing to escalate, and the union says that if its demands are not addressed, it does not rule out expanding its actions or even going on strike.

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Recently, Starbucks' global headquarters in Seattle's SoDo district saw a protest initiated by baristas and union members.

At the end of September, Starbucks officially announced the launch of a $1 billion restructuring plan, closing hundreds of underperforming company-operated stores in North America. In this round of store closures, both the world's first Roastery in Seattle's Capitol Hill and the SoDo store were permanently closed.

A barista who had worked for two years at the now-closed Roastery said in an interview with local media that the company notified layoffs only through a 5-minute pre-recorded phone call. He recalled that when his store suddenly closed, he only learned that it was closed that day through a text message from the shift manager, and later learned through media reports and the union's internal chat that the store was permanently closed. "I actually found out I was unemployed through social media."

The Starbucks union said the company recently closed a total of 28 stores in Washington State, 9 of which are in downtown Seattle. With the large number of store closures, many employees lost their jobs, and they were not given any transfer or relocation opportunities.

Local Seattle media reported that Starbucks' announcement of closing several stores in Washington State will result in the permanent layoff of 369 employees. Information released by the Washington State Employment Security Department shows that this batch of Starbucks layoffs will begin on December 5, 2025, all related to store closures.

According to union statistics, a total of 59 unionized stores across the United States were permanently closed in the company's latest adjustment, but the company refused to disclose the specific list of closed stores. A series of store closure and layoff decisions, as well as the fact that workers who lost their jobs did not receive proper arrangements from the company, have triggered strong dissatisfaction among local employees.

As a result, union members and workers recently gathered in front of Starbucks' Seattle headquarters to protest and demonstrate, holding up signs to express their dissatisfaction with the company's decisions. Demonstrators said, "Our slogan is 'An injury to one is an injury to all.' If Starbucks does not fulfill its due commitments, we are ready at any time to expand our actions, or even strike."

In response, Starbucks said its sales have declined for six consecutive fiscal quarters, and store optimization is part of its business adjustment. However, employees clearly do not agree with this explanation. In fact, over the past month, there have been multiple Starbucks employee protests in Seattle, involving issues such as understaffing, low wages, and retaliatory dismissals of union members.

The union also submitted multiple unfair labor practice complaints to relevant agencies, accusing Starbucks of failing to provide temporary positions for employees during the renovation of the Georgetown store, and even suggesting that employees "can apply for public assistance" to make up for lost income.

In addition, according to the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks abruptly closed more than 50 New York stores without giving advance notice to employees, landlords, and other relevant parties, and failed to provide employees at the closed stores with work at a location in the same borough in accordance with the city's relevant regulations. It believes the company appears prepared to violate its legal obligations to employees at New York stores and has sent it a letter demanding an explanation of how it will comply with the city's labor laws.

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