The protest is the second of its kind to coincide with Starbucks' annual 'Red Cup' day, during which the company distributes holiday-themed cups. Some locations will only be closed for a few hours, while others may remain closed for the entire day. The union aims to draw attention to Starbucks' refusal to negotiate fair contracts with its unionized stores. Workers are also protesting against inadequate staffing on promotional days.

Barista Michelle Eisen, one of the union's leaders, believes that this year's walkout will be more impactful than previous ones, with more customers and community activists expected to join the action. She emphasized the importance of Starbucks' reputation and the potential consequences for the company if it fails to address the workers' concerns.

Starbucks, which operates around 10,000 stores in the US, has stated that it does not anticipate significant disruptions due to the walkout. The company claims to have invested substantial amounts of money in higher wages, training, and new equipment. It also blames the union for delays in negotiations and points to successful negotiations at several stores in Canada.

Since 2021, workers at approximately 350 of Starbucks' US locations have voted to join the union. Starbucks has vehemently opposed the union campaign, allegedly engaging in tactics such as firing workers and closing stores to impede the movement. Administrative law judges have found that the company has violated labor laws on multiple occasions. Starbucks, however, denies any wrongdoing and typically appeals these findings.

The Starbucks union campaign has garnered significant attention and is credited with inspiring workers at other companies to organize and demand better working conditions. Despite witnessing other unions achieve significant wage increases, Michelle Eisen acknowledges that the fight for workers' rights at Starbucks continues to be challenging.

Original news source: Starbucks faces walkout at hundreds of US stores (BBC)

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to summarize the article in their own words, focusing on the main points. Each pair will then present their summary to the class, and the class will discuss any differences in what they chose to emphasize.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Write a series of statements related to the article on the board (e.g., "Workers have the right to strike," "Starbucks is justified in opposing the union," etc.). Have students stand along a line in the classroom that represents a spectrum of agreement or disagreement with each statement. Students will then explain their positions to the class, fostering a discussion on the different perspectives regarding the Starbucks workers’ situation.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Create cards with keywords from the article (e.g., "walkout," "union," "negotiate," "labor laws"). Students will play in small groups. The student who is 'it' must describe the keyword to their group without using the word itself or five additional taboo words listed on the card. The group must guess the keyword. This activity will help students practice circumlocution and vocabulary from the article.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: After discussing the article, ask students to write down their predictions for the future of the Starbucks union campaign and workers' rights movements in general. They can consider factors like public support, company responses, and legal challenges. Have students share their predictions with a partner and then with the class, discussing the likelihood and potential impact of these predictions.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Students will divide into two groups. One group will list the pros of the Starbucks workers' walkout and unionization efforts, while the other group will list the cons. After a set time, each group will present their list to the class, and then the class will engage in a debate weighing the pros and cons. This activity encourages critical thinking and balanced argumentation.

? workers in the United States are planning a ? at hundreds of stores in protest of the company's ? of its employees. The walkout, organized by Starbucks Workers United, is set to take place on one of the busiest days of the year for the coffee chain. The union and Starbucks have been engaged in a dispute over issues such as pay and scheduling. Approximately 200 stores are expected to be ? by the work stoppage on November 16th. The protest is the second of its kind to coincide with Starbucks' annual 'Red Cup' day, during which the company distributes holiday-themed cups. Some locations will only be ? for a few ?, while others may remain closed for the entire day. The union aims to draw attention to Starbucks' refusal to negotiate fair contracts with its ? stores. Workers are also protesting against ? staffing on promotional days. Barista Michelle Eisen, one of the union's leaders, believes that this year's walkout will be more impactful than previous ones, with more customers and community activists expected to join the action. She emphasized the importance of Starbucks' reputation and the potential consequences for the company if it fails to address the workers' concerns. Starbucks, which operates around 10,000 ? in the US, has stated that it does not anticipate ? disruptions due to the walkout. The ? claims to have invested substantial amounts of money in ? wages, training, and new equipment. It also blames the union for delays in negotiations and points to successful negotiations at several stores in Canada. Since 2021, workers at approximately 350 of Starbucks' US locations have voted to join the union. Starbucks has vehemently opposed the union campaign, allegedly engaging in tactics such as firing workers and closing stores to impede the movement. Administrative law ? have ? that the company has violated labor laws on multiple occasions. Starbucks, however, denies any wrongdoing and typically appeals these findings. The Starbucks union campaign has garnered significant attention and is credited with inspiring workers at other companies to organize and demand better working conditions. Despite ? other unions achieve significant wage increases, ? Eisen acknowledges that the fight for workers' rights at Starbucks continues to be challenging.

1. What is your understanding of a worker's union and its purpose?
2. How would you feel if your local coffee shop was closed due to a worker's walkout?
3. Do you think it's effective for workers to protest on busy days? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever participated in or witnessed a walkout? What was the experience like?
5. What do you believe are fair conditions for negotiating wages and scheduling with employers?
6. In your opinion, how important is it for companies to maintain a good reputation with their customers and employees?
7. Do you think community activists should join workers' protests? Why or why not?
8. How do you feel about companies investing in higher wages, training, and equipment? Do you think it's enough to address workers' concerns?
9. What are some reasons you think a company might oppose the formation of a union?
10. Have you ever had to work on a promotional day or during a major event? What was your experience with staffing and workload?
11. Do you like the idea of themed promotional days, like Starbucks' 'Red Cup' day? Why or why not?
12. Do you think companies should negotiate with unionized stores differently than non-unionized ones?
13. What impact do you think a successful union campaign at a large company like Starbucks can have on the broader workforce?
14. Can you think of any examples where workers' rights have significantly improved due to union efforts?
15. Do you believe that large corporations often engage in fair labor practices, or do you think labor law violations are common? Why?

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