Local Starbucks employees joined a nationwide effort this week to put financial pressure on the company following a series of unsuccessful labor negotiations.

Starbucks baristas' fast-growing unfair labor practice strike is expected to hit historic levels Tuesday as hundreds of stores nationwide prepare to join walkouts at the coffee giant. The Starbucks Workers United strike,

Starbucks baristas shut down the store at LaPorte Avenue and Silhavy Road in Valparaiso at noon on Christmas Eve in an attempt to bring the coffee behemoth to recognize the only unionized store in

More than 5,000 workers were expected to take part in walkout that ends later on Christmas Eve, their union says.

Thousands of Starbucks workers who walked off the job Tuesday, concluding what amounted to a five-day strike against the coffee giant, were expected to return to work on Christmas Day.