Author – Geovanny Tolentino
On Christmas Eve, Starbucks baristas at the Wallace and Glen Creek shop in West Salem (1124 Wallace Rd NW, Ste 105, Salem, OR) joined their siblings at Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) in an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The picket ran from 7am and 12pm and fully halted production; reportedly, only one manager attempted to cross the picket line to start serving customers. Consequently, the site’s doors were shuttered for the day.
The Salem Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America provided the picket with robust support. Of the attendees, 8 were Salem DSA members and 1 was a Portland DSA member. In addition to bodies, DSA members provided resources including water, a music speaker, a table, and a canopy for shelter.
The mood at the picket was jubilant. Strikers and supporters explained the demands of SBWU members to confused patrons at the drive-through, which include livable wages and the resolution of ULPs. Generally supportive, would-be customers were successfully turned away and took their business elsewhere. And despite a furious rain spell in the final hours, picketers danced and sang to artists ranging from Pete Seeger to Kendrick Lamar along the sidewalks of Wallace Road. The strike line was treated to solidarity honks from Salemites driving past and as a parting gift, the rain relented in the final minutes of the picket.
Only one confrontation was observed across all 5 hours of picketing: a lead SBWU organizer was struck by an aggressor attempting to exit the drive-through. Fortunately, the organizer did not report any injuries.
As of December 24, 2024, the West Salem shop picket joined over 300 sites across the country affiliated with SBWU, the independent union representing Starbucks baristas, to go on strike. Shops across the Portland-metropolitan area began picketing on December 23, including in Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Gresham. The Willamette Street site in Eugene (2830 Willamette St, Eugene, OR 97405) initiated theirs the same day. Interested in learning more and staying current with this story? Join the Salem DSA Working Group by emailing labor@SalemDSA.org or attending our next meeting on January 14, 2025 at Isaac’s Downtown!
