Starbucks workers' union expands to Chicago
Submitted on Wed, 08/30/2006 - 2:08pm
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO -- A union claiming to represent Starbucks Corp. workers at a handful of coffeehouses said Wednesday that employees of a Chicago store have declared their membership, becoming the first outside New York City to do so.
The baristas at the Logan Square Starbucks store joined the IWW Starbucks Workers Union Tuesday night, the union said. They issued a set of demands that included a living wage, guaranteed work hours and the reinstatement of IWW baristas fired for organizing activity.
Starbucks, the world's largest specialty coffee maker, often is lauded for offering generous benefits that include health insurance for part-time workers. But the two-year-old union, which has members at seven Starbucks locations, contends that workers face low wages and barriers to health care and other benefits.
Seattle-based Starbucks did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.
In March, Starbucks settled an unfair labor practice charge the union filed with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of violating federal law by creating a national policy prohibiting workers from sharing written union information or wearing buttons.
The company admitted no wrongdoing in its settlement, but was forced to post at three stores named in the complaint detailed notices explaining workers' rights to organize. It also offered two workers their jobs back and gave three employees back pay totaling less than $2,000.
Because the IWW has never formally negotiated with the company and is not certified under the National Labor Relations Act, Starbucks contends none of its U.S. stores is unionized. Nevertheless, the IWW claims to represent dues-paying members who have bargained for certain job improvements, including pay raises.
Daniel Gross, a former barista who has led union organizing efforts at Starbucks, has refused to disclose how many members the union has, characterizing it only as a "modest-sized group" with "positive membership growth."