Starbucks

Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain, is currently facing significant challenges related to labor disputes and technological adaptation. Striking baristas, organized under Starbucks Workers United, are urging customers to boycott the company's mobile app in support of their demands for a first union contract and improved working conditions. These strikes, involving hundreds of picketers across the US, highlight ongoing tensions over wages and labor practices. Simultaneously, Starbucks is investing in AI-powered automation, including AI robots taking drive-thru orders and assisting baristas in-store, aiming to improve efficiency and potentially reverse sluggish profits. This dual approach of navigating unionization efforts and implementing technological solutions underscores Starbucks' efforts to adapt to evolving market demands and labor dynamics.