A Starbucks store in Clearwater, Florida on Dec. 14, 2025. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Workers at downtown Clearwater’s Starbucks stood alongside supporters last Sunday as part of a nationwide strike to secure a fair union contract.
The workers, members of Starbucks Workers United, are part of action across the U.S. at about 200 locations in roughly three dozen cities. The nationwide strike started on Nov. 13.
Downtown Clearwater’s store at 433 Cleveland St. was closed last Saturday, and unlike past one-day strikes, this one is open-ended with a to-be-determined end date for the work stoppage.
As previously reported, the Clearwater workers, who first voted to unionize last summer, are picketing in solidarity with the union’s fight for higher wages and guaranteed hours.
Ethan Best, a two-year employee at the location who makes $15.80 an hour, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the company likes to tell people about offering the “best benefits,” but doesn’t mention that a worker must get 20 hours to be eligible. But multiplereportsshow that many Starbucks workers get stuck working 19 hours.
“I think when people hear that, they can recognize that’s not acceptable,” Best, 28, added.
An organizer with the West Central Florida Labour Council has a GoFundMe to help striking Clearwater workers endure the strikes, while official Starbucks Works United March (ie: this “Unions are hot” t-shirt) also benefit striking worker funds.
Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayA sign that reads “We apologize for the inconvenience… We are closed” on the door as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayA protest sign sits next to a cup of a competators brand as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayProtest signs lay on the ground as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayProtest signs lay on the ground as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayA protest sign sits next to a cup of a competators brand as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayA sign that reads “We apologize for the inconvenience… We are closed” on the door as Starbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayStarbucks barista workers at the Clearwater, Florida location caused a shutdown for the entire holiday weekend as part of the ‘RED CUP REBELLION’ which is a national movement that is entering its second month of rallies and strikes. The strikes are organized by the ‘STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION’. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa BayCredit: Courtesy of Ethan Best
Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...
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