Submitted on Tue, 03/11/2008 - 12:50pm
Disclaimer: Brandworkers International is not an official IWW project. members of the IWW participate in Brandworkers International.
For Immediate Release: Brandworkers International
Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org
March 6, 2008
New Advocacy Organization Protects and Advances the Rights of Retail and Food Employees
Brandworkers International Provides a Combination of Legal, Advocacy, and Organizing Support
New York, NY- Prompted by a transforming job market, workers' rights advocates have launched a non-profit organization to protect the rights of the increasing number of workers employed at retail and food chains. Based in New York, Brandworkers International links retail and food employees with concerned individuals to make positive change on the job and in the community. Over three hundred employment attorneys have already joined with Brandworkers to offer legal assistance to workers in need.
"Retail and food workers need an innovative organizational voice to face the variety of challenges posed by a globalized economy," said Brandworkers senior adviser Jennifer Gordon, a professor of labor law at Fordham Law School and a recipient of the MacArthur 'Genius' Fellowship for her leadership on low-wage worker issues. "By connecting under served employees with social change resources including lawyers, labor unions, and
community groups, Brandworkers will help ensure that workers' rights are both protected and expanded."
Submitted on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 11:07pm
Disclaimer - The opinions of the author do not necessarily match those of the IWW. This article is reposted in accordance to Fair Use guidelines.
February 28, 2008, by Lisa Baertlein - Reuters
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:
Submitted on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 11:04pm
Disclaimer - The opinions of the author do not necessarily match those of the IWW. The image pictured to the right appeared in the original article. This article is reposted in accordance to Fair Use guidelines.
Andrew Clark in New York - guardian.co.uk, Friday February 29 2008
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.
Submitted on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 4:05pm
For Immediate Release:
IWW Starbucks Workers Union
February 26, 2008
Starbucks Baristas Question Substance of National Shutdown for "Training"
New York, NY- As Starbucks stores around the United States reopen after a three hour shutdown to train employees, baristas of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union are calling into question the efficacy of the event. Union baristas left the "training" feeling like it was a public relations event directed at consumers rather than a bona fide attempt to improve drink quality or customer service.
“The whole thing seemed a little silly to me,” said Starbucks barista Peter Montalbano on his way out of the training. “We supposedly learned how to build a latte ‘from the espresso up,’- but we’re still pulling shots from a push-button espresso machine and pouring them into paper cups for not much above the minimum wage. It’s difficult to imagine people really caring about crafting the ‘perfect cappuccino’ if they can’t even afford to pay their bills."
Submitted on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 5:57pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19,
2008
CONTACT:
Matthew Andrews
IWW Organizer
cell:
617-633-1857
email: [email protected]
web:
www.harvestmembers..
This Saturday, February 23rd, fired worker Deon
Furtick will be protesting to get his job back along with concerned Harvest
Co-op members, and supporters from the Industrial Workers of the World. The
picket will be outside a meeting of the Harvest Co-op's board of directors, at
the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Harvest board members
are having a day long "retreat" to develop "long term objectives and hopes for
the board's work and Harvest"
(http://www.harvest.coop/board/agenda01_08.pdf).
