Inside the Seattle headquarters of Starbucks, something unusual is happening: pro-union flyers have appeared in hallways and restrooms, supportive of the baristas striking at dozens of stores nationwide. These flyers didn’t come from the storefronts or picket lines they came from within the corporate building itself, signaling a rare moment of solidarity from non-retail staff.
The strike by unionized baristas began as part of an unfair labor practices (ULP) campaign at around 65 stores in 40 U.S. cities. It coincides with the chain’s big annual promotion, “Red Cup Day,” making the timing especially strategic. The flyers placed in the headquarters reference issues such as pay, staffing, and the disproportionate compensation of CEO Brian Niccol one meme on a flyer compared his roughly $96 million compensation package to the $14,674 median partner salary.
According to two corporate employees interviewed by Business Insider, the Human Resources team told staff to report any pro-union activity they observed but instructed them not to intervene, citing that union-supporting actions may fall under “protected concerted activity” under labour law.
For Starbucks this internal development poses a new layer of complexity. The company is publicly saying it is “excited” about its holiday launch, claiming record performance and investment in staffing, yet the flyers inside its own headquarters show that pressure hasn’t dissipated. If corporate employees are quietly supporting the strike, the dynamic between headquarters and store staff changes: it’s no longer just picket lines outside stores, but signals of unrest inside the office corridors.
From the baristas’ point of view, this moment matters. The union called the action the “Red Cup Rebellion,” and says that support from inside could amplify its leverage. If corporate staff sympathize with demands for fair contract, better staffing and higher take-home pay, it suggests the pressure could expand beyond storefronts into broader internal culture.
For you as a consumer or observer, it’s a reminder of how labour disputes aren’t just about frontline workers and store closures. They can ripple into the corporate offices, influence perception, and change internal morale. When flyers show up in bathrooms at HQ, the story shifts from “store workers vs company” to “company as a whole under strain.”
In short: pro-union sentiment has breached the corporate walls at Starbucks’ headquarters. While the company carries on with its holiday push and performance claims, these internal flyers show a deeper undercurrent of discontent and a labour fight that might be reaching further than the cafés.
