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Starbucks Union
We are Starbucks Workers Coming Together for:
Updated: 10 hours 47 min ago 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. -->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. -->Tamika's StoryMy name is Tamika Williams and I've been a Starbucks barista for almost a year and a half. As a single mom, I take my job seriously and I do it well. Whether it's making drinks to standard or going above and beyond with customer service, I get the job done. I wish I could tell you that I believe Starbucks "embraces diversity", but in my case that's just not true. For months now, I have been discriminated against by Starbucks on account of my race. I've been disciplined for things white workers don't get disciplined for and management constantly disrespects me. This discrimination has resulted in reduced pay raises and in me getting suspended. When I wanted to further my partner development I was belittled and discouraged. I was physically attacked by a co-worker and for my trouble I received a write-up. He's white and he informed me he was not given a write-up. White workers haven't had to bring in doctor's notes when they're sick, I do. There's more but I think you get the picture. Time and time again I have spoken out against unfair treatment and received responses like I'm "too sensitive". I've had enough. I'm standing up for myself and for my family. I've joined the Starbucks Workers Union and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Working alongside baristas around the country who are part of the Union has made me feel empowered for the first time since I started working at Starbucks. I look forward to winning justice for my family and for my co-workers. -->Cold Day Finds Old Union Outside Modern City Shops [New York Times]January 22, 2008 Cold Day Finds Old Union Outside Modern City Shops By COLIN MOYNIHAN, New York Times The dramatic battles of the American labor movement were often fought in hazardous settings like the coal fields of Kentucky or the textile mills of Massachusetts. In recent times, though, a different type of labor dispute has become familiar in New York, focused on the retail outlets that keep upscale customers fed and caffeinated. And so it was that a crowd of about 50 people wrapped in scarves and bandannas against the cold gathered Monday morning outside a Starbucks at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 33rd Street. --> |