Sara Kelly, executive vice president and chief partner officer, shared the following message with Starbucks partners (employees):

Dear partners, 

As we look ahead to the new year, I want to reiterate how grateful I am for all the hard work—not only through this holiday season, but all year long. It’s been an incredible and busy 2025. It also feels like the right moment to reconnect with you about what’s been happening in our coffeehouses throughout the holiday season. I promised to keep you updated on developments with Workers United. We remain committed to bargaining for a reasonable contract that works for every partner and is sustainable. That hasn’t changed. 

Our commitment to bargaining a reasonable contract 

As we’ve said all along, when the union is ready to get back to the bargaining table, we’re ready to meet them there. With more than 30 tentative agreements already in place, we believe we can move to a reasonable and fair contract—one that reflects the fact that Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging more than $30 an hour for hourly partners. This includes comprehensive healthcare, paid parental leave, mental health benefits, Bean Stock, and a bachelor’s degree, on us. 

On the road to resolution – Workers United issues unconditional return-to-work notice 

Your dedication kept nearly all our 17,000 U.S. coffeehouses open and welcoming millions of customers this holiday season. Fewer than 1% of our coffeehouses were affected, and more than half of the coffeehouses the union placed on strike notice never closed or reopened quickly. More than half of the coffeehouses the union placed on strike notice never closed, or reopened quickly. We know that on some occasions, partners have had to deal with attempted disruptions and unsafe activity. We appreciate the way everyone has focused on taking care of our customers and one another. I’ve been consistently impressed by how you’ve lived our values as you’ve navigated this time. Thank you.  

I’m glad to be able to share that at the end of last week, the union informed us that partners at 166 of the 215 coffeehouses on their strike list would like to unconditionally return to work, meaning they are ready to return under the current terms of their employment. It does appear that the union plans to keep a small number of coffeehouses under strike notice for now, but this may be a signal that they’re ready to return to the bargaining table. 

Investing in what matters most to our partners 

We remain focused on what you’ve told us matters most. As part of our Back to Starbucks strategy, we’ve invested $500 million to bring more partners into our coffeehouses, provide more hours to more partners, and introduce technology that makes work simpler. Scheduling has improved too. Today, 85% of partners get the hours they prefer, and shifts are more consistent than ever. And because flexibility matters, new tools make it easy to pick up shifts when and where it works best for you. Together, these changes are about making your experience better because when partners thrive, so does Starbucks. 

We’ve had an exciting holiday season that kicked off with a record-breaking holiday launch and the biggest Reusable Red Cup Day in history. That is thanks to you. The care you create for each other and our customers is what defines Starbucks and makes this season especially bright. 

Let’s carry this spirit into the new year—creating growth, opportunity, and shared success. Thank you for everything you do, and warm holiday wishes to all who celebrate. 

Proud to be your partner, 
Sara