Local coffee shops affected by Starbucks strike 

Since Starbucks Workers United began their strike on Nov. 13, baristas and managers at other coffee shops in Oakland have noticed an influx in business. 

Unionized Pittsburgh Starbucks locations participated in national protests for better pay, better hours and fair labor practices on Nov. 13, which is Red Cup Day. The strike started at 65 stores in more than 40 cities and has spread to approximately 120 stores in 85 cities, becoming the “largest and longest strike” in Starbucks’ history.

Due to the SBWU strike, customers are now going to other coffee shops, creating an increase in business at locations such as Divvy and Dunkin’. 

Dachi Spoltore, a junior majoring in museum studies and a shift supervisor at Starbucks on Fifth Avenue, said it’s important that coffee drinkers honor the picket line. 

“In supporting and respecting the picket line, [customers] help the workers not only reach their goal of making Starbucks the best workplace but also the goal of making it better for them as customers as well,” Spoltare said. 

While SBWU is on strike, Spoltare says customers should support the other coffee shops around Oakland, especially small businesses. 

“I would say to students that, by supporting local [businesses] and agreeing to sign our ‘No Contract, No Coffee’ pledge, they are helping support us as baristas, but they are also supporting the community around us,” Spoltare said. 

Divvy Coffee & Buns, which is located on Forbes Avenue and opened in October 2021, has experienced increased business since the strike began, according to Jack Crosby, a junior majoring in film and media and a manager at Divvy. 

“It has been so busy, and — especially on the weekends — we have been pretty slammed, which was unexpected but such a blessing,” Crosby said. “We love to get so much business like this, and I love it going to a small business instead of big corporations.” 

Crosby hopes the increase in customers will continue even after the SBWU strike ends. 

“A lot of people said it was their first time [at Divvy], who had such a nice experience and [said] they will come back,” Crosby said. “It’s so nice to have new faces in here, and we always have our regulars, but we have been having a lot more new people coming in every day since the strike started.” 

At Dunkin’, managers and employees have been struggling to keep up with an uptick in orders, according to Megan Wright, a manager at Dunkin’ on Forbes. She said she has needed to open up more shifts to keep up with orders. 

“I have had to put extra shifts out there because we don’t have the staff to keep up with the current demand,” Wright said. “We ran out of many products like milk over the weekend due to a heavy rush from both the Starbucks closure and game day.” 

Josh Ames, an assistant manager at Dunkin’ on Forbes, said that although there has been a growth in sales, the high level of demand is causing immense stress. 

“We did about 10,000 in sales on one day, and on game day [Nov. 15], people were knocking on the doors before opening,” Ames said. “[There’s an] insane level of demand in orders, with our tickets hanging from ceilings and stickers printing out nonstop for hours on end.”

Mollie Dinger, a junior majoring in environmental science and ecology and evolution and an employee at Dunkin’, described how behind on orders workers are during shifts. 

“I worked a few shifts in the midst of the strike, and we were pretty consistently an hour behind for the entire 7 hours of my shift,” Dinger said. “Even with a full staff, it has been hard to keep up with the amount of orders we get, including the people that usually go to Starbucks.” 

Even as orders pile up, the staff at Dunkin’ is continuing to try their hardest to keep things running, according to Dinger. 

“I think the Oakland Dunkin’ really is doing the best they can with getting orders out to people,” Dinger said. “Being 50-plus orders behind is pretty discouraging, and most of the workers at Dunkin are college-age.”

Dinger believes that as long as Starbucks Workers United continues its strike, Dunkin’ workers will continue experiencing an increased number of orders. 

“College students need their coffee, and I think mobile ordering makes Dunkin’ the best alternative for people that usually go to Starbucks,” Dinger said.