Reuters Workers at hundreds of Starbucks stores have walked off their jobs during a key promotional event on Thursday, demanding improved staffing and schedules, the Workers United said on social media platform X.

The walkout comes on the coffee chain39;s Red Cup Day event, during which Starbucks hands out free redcolored, reusable, holidaythemed cups to customers on their coffee purchases.

Starbucks said on Thursday its stores in the United States were open, adding that a few dozen stores with some partners were on strike, but more than half of those stores were open this morning, serving customers.

About a dozen workers picketed outside Starbucks39; Astor Place outlet at the New York University39;s campus chanting no contract, no coffee and other rhymes. Meanwhile, the Astor Place continued to fill with NYU staff and students placing orders.

Red Cup day has typically been a major driver of store traffic, with Placer.ai data showing that visits to U.S. Starbucks stores on the day last year jumped 94 over the daily average for the full year.

Workers United, which represents more than 9,000 Starbucks employees at about 360 U.S. stores, has said the event was one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days, as drink orders pile up and employees end up on the receiving end of abuse from frustrated customers over long wait times.

Mary Boca, 22, Astor Place, New York barista, said she wants to see higher pay and more staff at Starbucks.

I have heard our managers…