Submitted on Sat, 05/10/2008 - 2:39pm
In March 2008 the Grand Rapids GMB of the IWW and the Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union announced the beginning of a 'Spring Offensive against Starbucks (SOS)' to increase local pressure on the coffee giant on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Starbucks Union founding, and in support of the new Unfair Labor Practice charges filed against Starbucks in Grand Rapids. Wobblies described S.O.S. as a 'multi-pronged' offensive where union members: would increase engagement with costumers about Starbucks' union-busting and 'fair tade' policies, increase contact with local baristas about the demands of the SWU as well as invitations to social gatherings, and an increase in publicity and community exposure.
IWW baristas honored MayDay 2008 with a press conference and celebration. At 4:00pm GMB members Jackie Wood and Chuck Neller posted in front of the Starbucks store in East Grand Rapids, with the branch banner, in preparation of the press conference. Union baristas then addressed the media with statements expressing solidarity with others struggling on the job, and announced a renewed commitment to fight Starbucks repression.
Submitted on Sat, 04/26/2008 - 12:28pm
For Immediate Release
IWW Starbucks Workers Union, StarbucksUnion.org
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.
Submitted on Wed, 10/03/2007 - 3:52am
Originally published at Media Mouse
On Friday, the Starbucks Workers Union--a union affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and formed in response to Starbucks' mistreatment of its baristas--held a press conference outside of Starbucks' Wealthy Street store in East Grand Rapids to respond to charges filed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the company. The charges included allegations that store employees were denied access to a store bulletin board that was previously open after an employee posted union materials, that a store manager threatened employees with "discharge and unspecified reprisals" if they engaged in union activities, and that they failed to change employee handbooks to indicate that employees could wear union buttons and have union literature based on a 2006 settlement in New York City.
Submitted on Wed, 10/03/2007 - 3:40am
By Chris Knape - Friday, September 28, 2007, The Grand Rapids Press
EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- The National Labor Relations Board is expected to decide by today if it will file charges against a Starbucks in Gaslight Village over allegations it violated employee rights to organize a union.
The NLRB is waiting to see if the coffee giant is willing to settle the charges, which included allegedly restricting the distribution of organizing materials and threatening to fire employees involved in unionizing efforts.
"Unless the matter is settled in the next day or two, we'll take further action," said Stephen Glasser, director of the NLRB's Region 7.
Submitted on Thu, 05/31/2007 - 11:04am
By Micheal Johnston - Grand Valley Labor News, June 2007
They’re twenty-somethings, idealistic, motivated and creative. In Grand Rapids they’ve been raised in anti-union, narrowly conservative and hyper-religious West Michigan. Until recently they viewed unions with hostility or as dinosaurs awaiting extinction. Most were indifferent to unions until now.
Across the globe, across the U.S., and in West Michigan they are shaking up the moribund labor movement and the Starbucks world of overpriced coffee, underpaid workers and hypocritical marketing.
Baristas at the Wealthy Street Starbucks, in East Grand Rapids, announced May 17 their membership in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union (www.starbucksunion.org), becoming the first store in Michigan to declare union membership at the world’s largest coffee chain.
