New Delhi, Dec. 11 -- Hundreds of Starbucks baristas walked off the job on Thursday (December 11) in 34 US cities, intensifying a month-long strike as the union pushes for the coffee chain's first-ever labor contract.

The union reported that more than 3,800 baristas have joined the nationwide strike, which now affects over 180 stores across 130 cities, marking the longest work stoppage in Starbucks' history.

The protest began on November 13, during Starbucks' Red Cup Day promotion, starting at 65 stores in more than 40 cities, and has grown as newly unionized workers joined the action.

Starbucks maintained that the strike caused no meaningful disruption to operations worldwide. Jaci Anderson, director of global communications, said:

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