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

In what the union has dubbed "The Strike Before Christmas," more than 5,000 workers are walking out of 300-plus Starbucks locations nationwide Tuesday.

Christmas Eve will be the largest ever work stoppage against Starbucks, the baristas union said, affecting Atlanta, New York and other cities. Most locations will not be impacted.

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,

The Christmas Eve strike downtown came after 98% of national Starbucks Workers United members voted on Dec. 17 to authorize a strike "if necessary."

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.