One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board.

Less than a week before Christmas, Amazon and Starbucks employees are striking as their respective companies refuse to meet union demands.

Workers at U.S. Starbucks stores have begun a five-day strike to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company

Union members will walk out in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle starting Friday. The strikes are expected to expand to hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve.

Starbucks says the wage increases sought by its union employees are "not sustainable," pushing back against demands as workers at the coffee giant strike.