Starbucks U.S. Workers' Strike Spreads at Year-End Point

Strikes that began during the end of the year by Starbucks workers in the U.S. are spreading to various parts of the country, demanding higher wages.

The Starbucks Workers Union' issued a statement on the 21st local time, saying that cafes in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis will also close, following strikes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle the day before.

The union also warned that the number of strike-participating stores could reach a hundred by the 24th, Christmas Eve.

Some predict that it could affect Starbucks' year-end sales as unions go on strike ahead of Christmas.

Earlier, Starbucks' labor and management had negotiated since April, but failed to achieve a breakthrough.

The union called on the company to guarantee all baristas a base salary of at least $20 an hour and raise the minimum wage for part-time workers by 64% immediately and 77% over a three-year contract period.

However, the company suggested raising the wage by 1.5% in the future without an immediate wage increase, arguing that it was offering a salary and benefits worth $30 an hour to baristas who work more than 20 hours a week.