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CampaignsSacramento City Council steps in againThe Sacramento City Council stood up again April 1 for the Blue Diamond workers' right to organize and join the ILWU. The Council voted 7 – 1 to create an ad hoc committee which would talk with the company, the workers and the union to try to work out a fair election process agreeable to all. This marked the second time the Council had taken action for the Blue Diamond workers. At a packed and dramatic meeting Dec. 5, 2006, the Council passed a resolution urging the company to sign a neutrality agreement with the ILWU. Company management has not responded to that or any other input from the community it has called home for nearly 100 years--the community that gave it around $21 million in public aid in 1995 to keep it from leaving town. Even one of the Council members who gave thumbs down on the 2006 resolution approved of this year's call for an ad hoc committee. "Having the kind of dialogue my colleague is suggesting can only be helpful," Council member Robert King Fong said. "We have a responsibility to the employer and the employees at Blue Diamond to try to help resolve this situation." Read more about the Council meeting and other recent developments in the campaign here. César Chávez March takes action at BDGSacramento's eighth annual César Chávez March stopped for a brief rally in front of the Blue Diamond plant March 29. The Aztec dancers opened up, swaying their plumed head-dresses and rattling their leg-bracelets to the beat of their drummer (and the low-rider song playing on the sound system).
Blue Diamond Organizing Committee members Gene Esparza and Maria Arellano addressed the thousands of marchers, who represented dozens of unions and community groups. The workers have seen their conditions improve since they started organizing, Arellano said. "But we know why we made those gains, and we know we will lose them if we do not have a union." "All we want is a fair vote," Esparza said. "We want a fair vote, not a rigged vote, and we need your help to get it." Then the crowd marched up to the Blue Diamond gift shop and sat down for a minute in front of it, yelling and chanting support for the workers' right to organize.
New Bishop of Sacramento backs workers' rightsJaime Soto, the new Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, sent a message to the Blue Diamond workers on the occasion of the César Chávez March. "I make myself present through this message to support the righteous cause of the Blue Diamond workers to reach greater solidarity among themselves and struggle together as a whole for a better future for their families," Bishop Soto wrote. "Coming together in a union can serve as an effective instrument for furthering the common welfare and promoting the dignity of the worker as a brother and companion in the quest for a more righteous world." Youngdahl disses the BishopSacramento's new Bishop, Jaime Soto, wrote to Blue Diamond CEO Doug Youngdahl March 26. "Historically, the success of Blue Diamond Growers is the result of the growers' own efforts to work together for each others' benefits," the Bishop wrote. "The earnest ambitions of your employees are no different. I sincerely hope and pray that both the Growers and their employees will find an equitable accommodation to resolve this unnecessary labor-management tension." The Bishop also urged Blue Diamond to agree to fair ground rules for a union vote, and offered any of the parish halls in Sacramento as a location for the election. M.E.Ch.A. rallies for BDG workers
About 500 members of M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán) rallied in front of the Blue Diamond Growers plant March 21 during the group's national conference. They also took up chalk and paint to cover the pavement with drawings and messages of support for the Blue Diamond workers' long fight to join ILWU warehouse Local 17. The two blocks leading to the plant's main gate bloomed with solidarity greetings from as far away as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Arizona. "M.E.Ch.A.'s motto is 'La unión hace la fuerza,' in unity there is strength," said Steven Payan, a member of M.E.Ch. A. at Woodland Community College and an organizer of the support action. "These workers are part of us. They're people of color, people in the struggle. We know some of them are scared and we want to increase their hope and faith by letting them know we're behind them." M17: Commemorate the 4th Anniversary of the Starbucks Union and Honor Dr. KingOn May 17, join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union and allies around the 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King, As a rabidly anti-union, poverty wage employer, Starbucks represents Since it’s founding on May 17, 2004, the Industrial Workers of the World A recent Labor Board trial exposed the underbelly of Starbucks' massive Take action in your community on May 17th to ensure Starbucks stops Contact M17 Coordinator Vallan Anundson, at 571.276.1935 or disillpow (at) riseup.net, M17 in NYC: Celebrate the 4th Anniv. of the Starbucks Union at the CEO's New Mansion!This May 17, the IWW Starbucks Workers Union will In New York City, you are invited to join baristas and A STARBUCKS BARISTA WOULD HAVE TO WORK OVER 350 YEARS Video: Grand Rapids Starbucks Union Speaks out on May Day!The Starbucks Union baristas of Grand Rapids, Michigan honor international workers' day and speak out for the rights of baristas and coffee farmers including a wrongfully fired barista in Spain from the CNT union. SWU Allies Hit Starbucks in Spain on May DayThe CNT in Spain made sure to stop by Starbucks on their May Day march:
Starbucks Union Responds to Anti-Union Intimidation In Grand Rapids, Michigan with More Unfair Labor Practice ChargesFor Immediate Release Contact: starbucksunion (at) yahoo.com Union Alleges that the Embattled Coffee Giant is Violating a Settlement Agreement Grand Rapids, MI (04/15/2008)- As Starbucks awaits the decision in a trial over 30-plus unfair labor practices in New York City, the IWW Starbucks Workers Union has filed labor charges against the company in Michigan. These new charges come less than a year since Starbucks signed a settlement agreement with the National Labor Relations Board pledging to refrain from unlawful anti-union intimidation in Grand Rapids. Baristas say Starbucks anti-union activity has continued unabated since the agreement. The new charges included alleged violations of the settlement agreement. "Instead of respecting the agreement they reached with the NLRB, Starbucks has continued retaliating against employees. They continue to refuse to respect barista's right to organize," said Cole Dorsey a barista and union member in East Grand Rapids. "Instead of trying to get publicity with national barista 're-trainings', Howard Schultz needs to re-train his management team so they quit violating national labor laws." The new charges include further discrimination of bulletin board usage - a violation of the agreement signed last year. They also include selective punishment of union baristas, scheduling baristas based on their union sympathies, and not allowing union baristas to transfer to other stores. The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization of employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for secure work hours and a living wage. The union has members throughout the United States fighting for systemic change at the company and remedying individual grievances with management. Union baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors have fought successfully for improved scheduling and staffing levels, increased wages, and workplace safety. Workers who join the union have immediate access to co-workers and members of the community who will struggle with them for a better life on the job. ### -->Judge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks caseJudge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks case; small California businesses likely to be affected too07:15 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 By LOU HIRSH Dipping into its Cynthia Germano, a labor lawyer Judge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks caseJudge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks case; small California businesses likely to be affected too07:15 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 By LOU HIRSH Dipping into its Cynthia Germano, a labor lawyer Union to Share Plan to Improve Customer Service at Starbucks Annual MeetingFor Immediate Release: March 19, 2008 Starbucks Shareholders Will Be Greeted with Leaflets Seattle, WA- As shareholders arrive at the Starbucks "Maintaining a long-term, well-paid workforce is the Starbucks Union Mourns the Loss of Good SamaritanMarch 5, 2008 Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union on the "The IWW Starbucks Workers Union sends its deepest ### -->Starbucks dustup or Much Ado about Nothing? [Reuters]February 28, 2008 by Lisa Baertlein Starbucks’ decision to close its stores for a few hours of coffee-brewing training on Tuesday got a double shot of media airtime — when it was first announced and the day of the closure — but has it raised the bar on coffee or customer service at the ubiquitous coffee chain’s outlets? This reporter conducted a highly unscientific poll of five customers, and the exchanges, at a Starbucks in Los Angeles’ downtown, went something like this: Reporter: “Have you noticed a difference in the quality of your coffee or the customer service today?” Startled customer: (takes sip of coffee, pauses to ponder flavor) “No.” Starbucks called the event a success: “We believe that the investment made in this training will have a significant impact on our customers’ experience.” The fledgling IWW Starbucks Workers Union, however, is in a froth over the training effort — which is part of a plan by returned Chief Executive Howard Schultz to reignite Starbucks’ flagging U.S. growth. -->Listen, acknowledge, take action [The Guardian]February 29, 2008 by Andrew Clark, The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/29/starbucks.useconomy It was tough - but Americans soldiered on. For three hours on Tuesday afternoon, Starbucks outlets across the nation closed their doors for a mass barista training session aimed at perking up coffee quality. But was this shutdown an espresso masterclass or simply a public relations masterstroke? Nicknamed "fourbucks" for the hefty price of its brew, Starbucks holds a special place in modern culture. It has injected new words into popular discourse – Frappuccino, half-caff. Apparently a "red-eye" means an extra shot. And to many people, the Italian word "venti" has become an adjective meaning extra large. Chairman Howard Schultz is anxious to reverse a worrying decline in the average number of transactions per store. Baristas, from now on, will be expected to chat more vigorously to customers rather than preparing drinks in silence. -->Man indicted in connection with ship accidentFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, Saturday, February 23, 2008 A Suisun City man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of falsifying documents and neglecting duty in connection with an incident in which a Hornblower ship rammed a San Francisco pier in 2006, court records show. Shawn Keith Cox, 44, had a U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner license that was issued in 1996 but had been altered to make it look as if it were issued in 2006, said the indictment handed down Thursday by a federal grand jury in San Francisco. On Dec. 4, 2006, Cox "failed to maintain the proper attention required" to prevent the M/V California Hornblower, a vessel that can accommodate 1,000 guests, from ramming Pier 3 in San Francisco, the indictment said. Four days after the accident, Cox made a false statement in a report to the Coast Guard about whether he possessed a license, the indictment said. Categories: Campaigns
Comments on the Hornblower / Circle-line Ferry StoryThe author of the previous story, Amy Langfield, writes Thanks for the link to my story about the new ferry service at Statue of Liberty. Though I'm curious as to why you're advocating a boycott of them. Is it because they're non-union? Many thanks, George S., a longtime bay area IBU member and maritime worker responds: Yes. They took over the Alcatraz ferry contracts using non union labor. They won the contract making promises they couldn't possible keep. They promised a Solar/Sail powered ferry by 2008! Not happening. They were supposed to build a gateway destination--not happening. They were forced to pay their non-union employees prevailing wages--their health benefits and retirement are lacking. The previous company that had the Alcatraz contract (Blue and Gold) asked the National Park service if they could raise the rates to take passengers to Alcatraz. They were always turned down by the NPS because they would be gouging the public. As soon as Hornblower was granted the contract they were able to raise their rates substantially (something rotten here). Categories: Campaigns
Starbucks Baristas Question Substance of National Shutdown for "Training"For Immediate Release: February 26, 2008 Starbucks Baristas Question Substance of National New York, NY- As Starbucks stores around the United “The whole thing seemed a little silly to me,” said E-Mail Action: Fortune Magazine, Stop Lying About Starbucks Being a 'Best Company to Work For'Andrew Serwer January 28, 2008 Dear Mr. Serwer, I take serious issue with the erroneous information regarding Starbucks in Fortune Magazine's 2008 '100 Best Companies to Work For'. I am especially concerned about the reliability of Fortune given that the IWW Starbucks Workers Union wrote you an open letter before the 2007 '100 Best Companies to Work For' feature that pointed out the very same misinformation which you proceeded to include once again in the 2008 list. The 2008 'Best Companies to Work For' list claims that the most common hourly job at Starbucks is a mysterious position called "Coordinator III" which takes in $37,390 per year. Once again, the most common hourly job at Starbucks, by far, is a position called "Barista" which likely takes in approximately $12,000 per year on average. The precise average pay for baristas is not known since Starbucks refuses to make that information public. -->
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