With less than a week until Christmas, Amazon and Starbucks employees are striking across the country as the companies and their workers remain at odds.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters launched what it billed as the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history on Thursday morning. The union said the business refused to bargain with employees in period to meet its deadline of Dec. 15.

On Friday, Starbucks Workers United kicked off a strike expected to run through Christmas Eve. The Starbucks strike also revolves around an unfinished deal, as the union says Starbucks promised employees there would be an agreement by the complete of this year.

Here’s why and where Amazon and Starbucks employees are striking ahead of Christmas week.

Why are Amazon employees striking?

The Teamsters union is looking for Amazon to recognize a union deal that includes higher wages, better benefits and safer work conditions. Teamsters informed Amazon, according to a Teamsters information release, that employees would strike if deal demands were not met by Dec. 15.

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Amazon has repeatedly refused to recognize the Teamsters and said in statement to USA TODAY that the strike is not a legitimate representation of its workers.

“For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the community – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers,'” Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said. “They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a untrue narrative.”

Where are Amazon strikes happening?

Strikes are being held at Amazon warehouses in recent York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco and Skokie, Illinois, according to a International Brotherhood of Teamsters information release.

Amazon workers without collective bargaining agreements also have the correct to integrity the picket line and withhold their labor, a Teamsters information release states.

How will Amazon strikes result holiday deliveries?

Planning the strikes around the holiday period was part of the Teamsters’ schedule.

“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a information release. “They’ve pushed workers to the limit and now they’re paying the worth. This strike is on them.”

According to Nantel, Amazon is not seeing an impact in its customers’ orders because of the strikes.

Why are Starbucks employees striking?

Starbucks employees began their strike due to a lack of advancement in contact negotiations with the business.

Specifically, Starbucks Workers United is seeking a base rate of $20 per hour for all baristas, a base rate of $25.40 per hour for supervisors, 5% annual raises and expense of living adjustments, according to the Starbucks Workers United website. The union is also looking for automatic 401(k) superannuation schedule enrollment, 100% employer-paid healthcare accessible to part- and packed-period employees and 13 days of paid ill leave for all employees, among other demands.

Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee told USA TODAY on Friday that Starbucks Workers United “prematurely” ended the two entities bargaining session earlier this week.

“It is disappointing they didn’t profitability to the table given the advancement we’ve made to date,” Gee said. “Since April, we’ve held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days. We’ve reached over 30 meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were significant to them, including many economic issues.”

According to Gee, Starbucks offers an average pay of more than $18 per hour with benefits like healthcare, free college tuition, paid household leave and business distribute grants.

“Workers United proposals call for an immediate boost in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year year deal,” Gee said. “This is not sustainable.”

Starbucks Workers United did not immediately respond for comment about the strike and negotiations when contacted by USA TODAY on Friday.

Where are Starbucks strikes happening?

Starbucks Workers United began hosting strikes at Starbucks locations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle on Friday, according to a post on X by the labor union. Each day, through Dec. 24, the labor union anticipates hosting strikes in more cities.

How will the Starbucks strike result business?

Gee told USA TODAY on Friday that there hasn’t been a widespread impact on Starbucks stores.

“We are aware of disruption at a tiny handful of stores, but the overwhelming majority of our U.S. stores remain open and serving customers as normal,” Gee said.

Contributing: James Powel, Natalie Neysa Alund

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. pursue her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. narrative concept? Email her at [email protected].