Submitted on Mon, 12/22/2008 - 2:37pm
Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union followed by threat letter
received yesterday
December 17, 2008
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) and our dear friends in the global
movement for worker justice have been campaigning against Starbucks for
punitively denying two weeks of work to an SWU member who went home ill from a
shift one day. In these terrible economic times, barista Anna Hurst absolutely
must receive the compensation she is owed to pay rent and put food on the table
for her two children.
Instead of paying the money owed, a lawyer for Starbucks store manager
Gwendolyn Krueger has now threatened a frivolous lawsuit and even a criminal
complaint against the Industrial Workers of the World. To call the truthful
expression of our collective voice harassment and libel is both offensive and
wrong as a matter of law.
Let us be clear: the IWW Starbucks Workers Union takes our right to defend
baristas' interests and our right to free speech very seriously. We do not back
down in any respect in response to baseless threats of litigation --- the
struggle for secure work hours and respect on the job at Starbucks is too
important.
Submitted on Sat, 12/20/2008 - 6:06pm
Greetings from the International Solidarity Commission (ISC) of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and welcome to the sixth digest of our monthly international news letter.
The purpose of this newsletter is to keep our allies around the world informed of our activities, solidarity campaigns, and relevant international labor struggles. It is our hope that this newsletter will contribute to building worker-to-worker solidarity through strengthened communications and exchanges of information.
If you would like to contribute story ideas or news for the bulletin, or wish to contact the ISC, you can email [email protected].
Saludos de la Comisión de Solidaridad Internacional (ISC) de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo (IWW) y bienvenidos a nuestro boletín internacional mensual.
El propósito de este boletín es mantener a nuestros aliados alrededor del mundo informados de nuestras actividades, campañas de solidaridad, y luchas obreras relevantes. Esperamos que este boletín contribuya a construir solidaridad entre trabajadores reforzando las comunicaciones e intercambios de información.
Submitted on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:29pm
Saludos de la Comisión de Solidaridad Internacional (CSI) de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo (IWW) y bienvenidos a nuestro sexto boletín internacional mensual y último del 2008.
El
propósito de este boletín es mantener a nuestros aliados alrededor del
mundo informados de nuestras actividades, campañas de solidaridad, y
luchas obreras relevantes. Esperamos que este boletín contribuya a
construir solidaridad entre trabajadores reforzando las comunicaciones
e intercambios de información.
Para contribuir con ideas o noticias al boletín, o para contactar a la ISC por favor escribir a [email protected].
En esta edición:
1. Noticias del IWW
- Minneapolis: otra tienda de Starbucks se sindicaliza
- Sheffield: actualización de la sala de cine
2. Acciones y Eventos de la CSI
- Democracia Ateniana (Rojo y Negro) – reporte de Saku Pinta, cabeza de la CSI
- CSI estrena el documental de Haití en show de arte en Baltimore
3. Resoluciones y Demandas de Solidaridad
- Llamando la atención en contra de la ejecución pendiente contra Farzad Kamangar
- No al quiebre sindical en Telefónica
- Solidaridad con la ocupación de los trabajadores hoteleros de Tokio
- Demandando un fin a la ocupación de Haití
- Solidaridad con los manifestantes japoneses arrestados
Submitted on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 8:27pm
On the weekend of Martin Luther King Day, log truckers and container
haulers from Eastern North Carolina and Virginia will be gathering to formally
charter the United Truckers Union. This event will be the culmination of a
nearly year-long organizing drive that led to a work stoppage on the morning of
December 8, 2008. That action, which saw small but lively pickets outside of
Weyerhaeuser mills along coastal North Carolina, reduced the amount of logs
entering the New Bern mill by approximately 35% and shut down several tree
stands in the Plymouth area. Only six trucks left BTT's yard, one of
Weyerhaeuser's primary subcontractors and a target of the strike. Following the
mornings' stoppage, a unnamed Weyerhaeuser representative announced to local
media that management agreed to the workers' key demand: that mill management
recognize the drivers' organization and arrange a meeting between the drivers'
negotiating committee, Weyerhaeuser, and representatives of the subcontractors who employ the drivers. Accordingly,
the union has directed a letter to the Vice President for Southern Timberland in
Seattle, Washington offering several dates and places for an initial
meeting.
Community support has proven integral to the drivers' success. In
particular, local churches have vocally supported the organization. "Preacher,"
a union member and an ordained reverend, described this relationship: "The
drivers represent the community, the church represents the community. What
affects one of us, affects all of us. We're all in this together." Along much
these same lines, the solidarity shown by the larger labor movement has been a
source of moral as well as real world support. The drivers would to take this
opportunity to thank the unionists and environmental activists who picketed
Weyerhaeuser corporate headquarters on the day of their recent strike. Likewise,
they are extending their sincerest appreciations to USW Locals in North Carolina
and Washington State, UE 150, and the Northwest Log Truckers
Cooperative.
The drivers have already announced their intention to affiliate with the
Industrial Workers of the World Motor Transport Workers Industrial Union (IWW IU
530). Founded in 1905, the IWW is a democratic and militant rank-and-file
industrial union. The IWW believes that only through organization can the men
and women who carry everything our communities need break the pattern of
injustice faced by America's truck drivers.
Submitted on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 6:30pm
UPDATE and Further Call to Action!!!
First, we would like to extend thanks to all of you that have been calling
and texting store manager Gwen Krueger this past week and demanding she pay Anna
what is owed.
Yesterday, Anna was called into a meeting with Krueger and her District
Manager, Mark Ormsbee. Krueger used this meeting as an opportunity to lie about
the facts in order to cover her hide. Ormsbee, expectantly, sided with Krueger
and made the mistake of refusing to pay Anna her money.
We need to let Mark Ormsbee to know that this is not over until Anna
receives every penny that Starbucks owes her so she can care for her family in
the holiday season.
Call and/or Text District Manager, Mark Ormsbee, at 1-917-841-4198 and
continue to call and text Store Manager, Gwen Krueger, at 1-551-497-0127. This
action for justice will take place from December 11th - December
19th.
BACKGROUND
