One of our favorite YouTubers, North of the Border, dedicated his latest modeling project to the Starbucks baristas on strike. I always appreciate when an artist draws more awareness to issues in a way that is unique to their talents.

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Who is North of the Border?

Hiya folks, my name is Adam and I like to make tiny, nerdy things

That’s how every episode on the crafty channel begins, and soon you’re caught up in an almost-ASMR journey, often cursed. In this channel, however, it’s the mistakes that make it interesting, such as when he tried to make the Headless Horseman, ‘but got confused.” You should also enjoy my personal horror story, a LEGO man but realistic.

Watch North of the Border make the most cursed cup of coffee on the internet

Why are Starbucks baristas on strike?

On November 13, 2025, the Starbucks union began their strike. According to their website, the Red Cup Rebellion is necessary because:

“We’re striking for a fair union contract, resolution of unfair labor practices, and a better future at Starbucks. For every one barista on strike, dozens more allies and customers have pledged to honor the picket line and not buy Starbucks while we’re on strike.”

A union usually votes to authorize a strike after negotiating with the company, but neither side feels satisfied. After six months, the Starbucks union members demands include (direct from their website):

We’ve been clear and consistent all year. Our three remaining, unaddressed demands are:

We demand better hours to improve staffing in our stores. Understaffing is rampant, leading to longer wait times as customer orders stream in. Yet too many baristas still aren’t getting enough hours to pay the bills or meet the threshold for benefits. Starbucks needs to invest in increasing our hours.

We demand higher take-home pay, so we can pay our bills. Too many baristas struggle to get by, while executives make millions. Starbucks needs to put more money toward our take-home pay.

We demand resolution for hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges for union busting. The coffee giant has committed more labor law violations than any employer in modern history. Starbucks needs to fully resolve legal issues impacting baristas.

Resources for kids about a strike

Good introduction to the history of labor unions in the United States. This website can also help show them how to check sources and detect bias.
Make labor history come alive with your kids.
Crash Course Government & Politics shares excellent background to understand the terms and context
During the 2023 SAG/AFTRA Strike, the union fought for background checks on sets with a child actor, along with AI consent and compensation.

Crowds holding SAG/AFTRA signs. Photography by SAG/AFTRA member Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper — Photography by SAG/AFTRA member Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper

Crafty YouTubers your family can watch together

Wicked Makers are an adorable couple who started showing how you can make sophisticated Halloween builds, but at home. I have a long standing dream to create a series of their haunted houses one year.
Adam Savage’s Tested is one of my standbys for getting into a creative mode. He talks about building an artistic career, answers questions, shows builds, interview people….but if you haven’t watched his series Mythbusters, it’s a very cool entry into the scientific method. His limited Discovery 2019 series Savage Builds is also a fun ride. They have a Mad Max episode!
Nerdforge is a Norwegian Maker couple (Martina Langseth Knutsen and Hans Jørgen Nygårdshaug) with light and funny narratives. Their style isn’t step by step, but it’s easy to follow along and figure it out.
More incredible Makers are Simone Giertz, Laura Kampf, Punished Props, Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs (also now on Netflix), and more.

I watch YouTube so you don't have to.