Submitted on Sat, 11/18/2006 - 11:50am
PITTSBURGH, PA - The Starbucks Workers Union in about 50 cities around the world--including Pittsburgh--has called for a global day of action November 24th to protest Starbucks' anti-union activity and poor employee compensation.
The Starbucks Union of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is calling for an end to corporate union-busting and demanding the reinstatement of five workers unlawfully fired by Starbucks for union activity. In March 2006, a National Labor Relations Board settlement was reached that reinstated two workers involved with the union movement and forced Starbucks to pay back wages and change discriminatory policies, including the workers' right to wear union buttons (which Starbucks had denied them). But the settlement seemed to do little to stop Starbucks? continued practice of intimidating workers involved in organizing.
Over the last two years Starbucks has consistently responded to union activity with harassment, intimidation, and illegal firings. Since December 2005, five workers in NYC were unlawfully fired for engaging in protected union activity:
- Joseph Agins fired from Starbucks, December 12th 2005
- Charles Fostrom fired from Starbucks, July 11th 2006
- Evan Winterscheidt fired from Starbucks, July 18th 2006
- Daniel Gross fired from Starbucks, August 5th 2006
- Isis Saenz fired from Starbucks, November 1st 2006
The Starbucks Workers Union is demanding an immediate reinstatement of all NYC
workers and an end to the corporate union-busting.
The Union is also protesting the need for higher wages, appropriate staffing, guaranteed hours, and safer working conditions. "Don't be fooled by Starbucks' so-called progressive, feel-good image," said Kevin Farkas, an IWW organizer in Pittsburgh. "Starbucks is one of the most profitable and competitive global companies in history, with about $8 billion in net earnings in 2006. Yet Starbucks 'partners' have starting wages around $7/hr, far below a livable standard for any worker. Clearly, Starbucks chooses to make such huge profits off the backs of its under-compensated, part-time workforce. That's putting profits before people, something that most working folks find disgusting."
Farkas went on to say that after six months on the job, typical raises amount to pennies, even as low as 11 cents in some documented cases. Despite Starbucks' claim of 'generous' healthcare, 401(k) retirement, and company stock options for employees, the reality is that wages and hours are so low that many employees can't afford such offerings after paying their rent, utility bills, car insurance and other basic bills each month. Starbucks also uses a part-time workforce; there are no full-time workers and no guaranteed hours per week, leaving many Starbucks 'partners' little choice but to partner up with a 2nd or 3rd job just to make ends meet.
On November 24th, the Pittsburgh Starbucks Workers Union will be holding a protest against Starbucks' anti-union, anti-worker practices. An event is scheduled at the Starbucks Coffee store in Squirrel Hill. All friends of labor are invited to join the Union and demand justice for Starbucks workers in Pittsburgh and around the world.
Submitted on Wed, 11/15/2006 - 11:19pm
Starbucks Workers demand the right to Organize
This November 24th-25th, stand in solidarity with Starbucks workers as we call for an end to the anti-union campaign waged by Starbucks and for the reinstatement of all unlawfully fired workers. In addition we are calling on Starbucks to give Ethiopia control over its coffee.
Starbucks workers around the country and the world are organizing to make our jobs better and finally have a real, independent voice at work. A powerful voice that our managers, even the whole company, have no choice but to listen too. By organizing a union baristas in NYC have seen our wages increased, schedules stabilized and respect from our bosses. Over the last two years, however, Starbucks has consistently responded to workers organizing with harassment, intimidation and illegal firings. A National Labor Relations Board settlement was reached in March of 2006 that reinstated two workers and forced Starbucks to pay back wages and change discriminatory policies. The Settlement did little to stop the anti-union campaign and since December of 2005 five workers in NYC were unlawfully fired for engaging in protected union activity.
Submitted on Wed, 11/15/2006 - 4:35am
Disclaimer - The following article is reposted here because it is an issue with some relevance to the IWW. The views of the author do not necessarily agree with those of the IWW and vice versa.
By Daniel Goldin - Huffington Post, November 14, 2006.
A few days after putting up my post "Starbucks and the White Whale" -- a reflection on Starbucks' ambition to become a cultural taste-maker -- I received an email from Daniel Gross, a Starbucks union-organizer in New York, pointing out some facts I had got wrong. I had said that "most of Starbucks' employees work part-time." In fact, all of Starbucks' retail employees work part-time (the company includes management in its statistics), with no guarantee even of the twenty hours needed to stay on the company's part-time worker health plan.
Submitted on Sat, 11/11/2006 - 12:28am
BBC News
Coffee giant Starbucks has been fined £12,000 after one of its branches was found to be infested with mice.
Mouse droppings were found next to spoons, knives and cups at the Charing Cross branch in London, City of Westminster magistrates heard.
The court heard an environmental health officer was hit by a "strong smell of mice" and recurring scenes of filth, mice droppings and stainings.
The chain pleaded guilty to four counts of food safety and hygiene breaches.
Management failures
Westminster City Council decided to prosecute after inspecting the state of two storerooms and a serving area at the cafe in Villiers Street in the West End.
Submitted on Thu, 11/02/2006 - 3:12am
Sister Worker Isis Saenz was fired today by Starbucks for participating in a protest Thursday evening against the company's union-busting [http://starbucksunion.org/node/1094].
The company claims that Isis acted inappropriately towards Regional Director Jim McDermott at the protest. Isis's principled stand for the right to join a union free of coercion apparently didn't comport with Starbucks' "guiding principles"
As in the case of Daniel Gross, Starbucks has fired an IWW barista for engaging in a union protest. Clearly, Starbucks is attacking the heart of the SWU's Direct Action strategy.
