Submitted on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 2:45am
By ELIZABETH M. GILLESPIE - AP BUSINESS WRITER
SEATTLE -- Starbucks Corp. has fired the co-founder of a union claiming to represent employees at six of its Manhattan coffee houses.
Daniel Gross, a barista and organizer for IWW Starbucks Workers Union, a branch of the Industrial Workers of the World, said Monday that he is challenging his termination, which followed a company investigation into an allegation that he made a threatening remark to a district manager at a recent union rally.
Gross, who has led union organizing efforts at Starbucks for the past three years, countered that he was simply making a statement of solidarity when he told District Manager Allison Marx that a fellow employee should not be fired.
Submitted on Thu, 08/03/2006 - 2:38am
Whereas Industrial Workers of the World member and Starbucks barista Daniel Gross took part in a protest to defend the job of a fellow worker in the spirit of mutual aid and solidarity; and
Whereas Starbucks is currently engaging in a sham investigation of Fellow Worker Gross because of his participation in said protest and engagement in concerted activity; and
Whereas Starbucks will decide whether or not to fire FW Gross at the conclusion of the "investigation"; and
Whereas the IWW Starbucks Workers Union has made important improvements in wages and working conditions at the world's largest coffee chain through direct action on and at the job and involving workers throughout the community in the process; and
Whereas Starbucks continues to wage a relentless anti-union campaign to break the IWW presence at the company; and
Whereas despite the disgraceful union-busting from Starbucks including the retaliatory terminations of IWW members Joe Agins Jr., Charles Fostrom, and Evan Winterscheidt, the Wobbly campaign continues to grow; and
Whereas the IWW refuses to be silenced or intimidated by Starbucks, and has always stood by its motto: "An Injury to One is An Injury to All";
Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED,
That the General Executive Board of the Industrial Workers of the World will, in the event that Starbucks terminates FW Gross, encourage international labor organizations and supporters to publicly condemn Starbucks' behavior and be prepared to take further action until such time that he is reinstated.
Submitted on Wed, 08/02/2006 - 3:45pm
On Saturday July 29th Starbucks workers, members of the NYC and NJ IWW branches as well as several coalition members from Make The Road By Walking, CODA and NMASS walked the picket in support fired workers Joe Agins Jr., Charles Fostrom, and Evan Winterscheidt. Starbucks unlawfully fired members of the union as a form of intimidation to frighten workers from organizing. Our union is outraged by the latest effort by the company to silence us. Regardless of workers being fired and continual threats of firings, we refuse to be intimidated and continue to stand up for better conditions on and off the job.
On the same Saturday of our picket, an organizing committee at 17th and Broadway Union Square West went public and several members started wearing union pins. Workers at 17th and Broadway have experienced some of the toughest intimidation and harassment as a result of being across the park from Union Square East where union members have been public for 1/2 a year. Union members at 17th and Broadway along with thier brothers and sisters at 14th and 4th ave demand consistent schedules, higher wages for all Union Square Starbucks workers, fair raises and an immediate investigation into Mr. Gomez's behavior and an end to management's disrespect, harassment and prejudice against all 17th and Broadway Starbucks union members.
Submitted on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 12:16pm
We need your solidarity now. Daniel Gross, an organizer in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, is being "investigated" by the company over a protest he and his co-workers participated in to support another IWW barista, Evan Winterscheidt. Evan was suspended and faced termination because of his union activity and his fellow union members went to protest outside his store to demand that he not be fired. Pending the outcome of Starbucks' "investigation" into Daniel's participation in this act of mutual aid, Starbucks will decide whether or not to fire him. The decision could take place any day so please take action now.
Submitted on Wed, 07/19/2006 - 1:37pm
In the latest attempt to scare workers from joining the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, Starbucks has fired two union members in two different stores. Evan Winterscheidt, a 2 year employee at 14th st and 6th ave and Charles Fostrom at 57th st and Lexington ave. The Union demands the immediate reinstatement of both workers and an end to the illegal anti-union activities.
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union believes that these two firings are part of an on going anti-union campaign and is filing more unfair labor practices against the company. Although Starbucks has relentlessly tried to intimidate NYC baristas from joining the union, workers continue to organize for higher wages, consistent hours, respect at work and a better life on and off the job.