Nearly six weeks after thousands of Starbucks union workers began to strike over contract negotiations, the standoff with the Seattle-based coffee giant hasn't budged.

Now, the majority of striking baristas are set to return to work, according to the company and Starbucks Workers United, the union representing thousands of baristas.

Sara Kelly, Starbucks chief partner officer, told employees in a letter Tuesday that a return-to-work notice was recently issued by the union.

At the end of last week, the union informed us that partners at 166 of the 215 coffeehouses on their strike list would like to unconditionally return to work, meaning they are ready to return under the current terms of their employment," Kelly wrote.

While some employees will resume their roles, about 25% will continue to strike, the union said, adding that the timeline for the strike is open-ended, with a number of workers ready to join the picket line in January if progress hasn't been made.

Christi Gomoljak, a striking union barista in Anaheim, Calif., acknowledged the return as "a shift change on the strike line."

"Some baristas who were previously on strike have returned to work to organize their stores, secure their livelihoods, and continue improving their workplace," Gomoljak said in a Tuesday statement. "Striking isn’t easy."

The strike, which started on Nov. 13 — otherwise known as Red Cup Day, a major Starbucks holiday promotional event — has won growing political support.

On Thursday, a rally outside Seattle corporate headquarters included Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Councilmember-Elect Dionne Foster, along with Shasti Conrad, Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party.

The event led to the formation of "Camp Contract," an on-site gathering of protesters that lasted for a few days.

After U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the Democrat representing Washington's 7th District, made an appearance at Camp Contract over the weekend, the gathering came to an end Monday due to weather, according to Starbucks Workers United.

In the past, elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson, also voiced their support of Worker United's efforts.

More than 4,500 baristas were taking part in an unfair labor practice strike around the country as of Thursday, per the union.

While Workers United originally announced strike notices for 215 stores, Kelly said more than half of the locations either didn't shutter or reopened soon after.

"It does appear that the union plans to keep a small number of coffeehouses under strike notice for now, but this may be a signal that they’re ready to return to the bargaining table," she wrote.

On Tuesday afternoon, no picket lines took place at two Starbucks locations in Seattle — University District, 4147 University Way N.E., and West Queen Anne, 1144 Elliott Ave. W. — that recently participated in the strike.

Instead, all was quiet at both coffeehouses, which had signs taped on their entrances signaling that the stores were temporarily closed.

Baristas are pushing the coffee giant for increased hours, higher take-home pay and resolution of labor law violations, the union said. Workers United has filed more than 1,000 unfair labor practice charges.

Kelly pointed to more than 30 tentative agreements already made between the company and Workers United.

Still, the first collective bargaining agreement has yet to be finalized.

But on Tuesday, 19 Starbucks coffeehouses representing more than 330 baristas filed petitions to hold union elections, according to Workers United. None were located in Washington. Workers at more than 560 stores are currently unionized in the U.S.

'Unsafe activity'

With strikes continuing, Kelly alluded to some risky activities that have taken place.

"We know that on some occasions, partners have had to deal with attempted disruptions and unsafe activity," Kelly wrote in her letter. "We appreciate the way everyone has focused on taking care of our customers and one another."

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson pointed to alleged security issues that have occurred at coffeehouses throughout the past month of striking. Her list included glue in store locks, chains around coffeehouse doors, chains around distribution center gates and the blockages of delivery trucks, employee vehicles and vendor vehicles.

Workers United disputed those allegations. It said that baristas and their allies are "peacefully engaging in legally-protected protest activity when they picket at Starbucks coffeehouses.

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