Letter to Maryland District Manager from Starbucks Workers Union
Submitted on Sat, 01/20/2007 - 1:58pm
Michael L. Mack
District Manager, Starbucks Coffee Company
2600 Park Tower Drive, Suite 100
Vienna, VA 22180
January 19, 2007
Dear Mr. Mack,
We are members of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union (SWU), a labor organization for employees at Starbucks. As you may know, we are united to secure our work hours, earn a living wage, and win respect for our labor. Today baristas at a store in your Maryland-based district have announced their membership in the Union. They join workers at stores in New York City and Chicago who have done the same. We insist that you respect their right under domestic and international law to join a union.
Employees at Starbucks who have joined the SWU have improved their wages and working conditions through collective action. As this process proceeds in your district, the SWU will be monitoring your conduct closely. We strongly encourage you to obey the law and avoid joining the Starbucks managers who have chosen to cross the line into illegality.
While Starbucks continues to enjoy record growth and expansion, many baristas are living in poverty. At the same time, baristas are faced with fluctuating work hours making it exceedingly difficult to budget for necessities and qualify for purchasing health benefits. Finally, management has consistently refused to schedule enough workers on the floor to meet the extraordinary customer demand that many Starbucks stores experience.
The difficult working environment that Starbucks workers face must change and the SWU will ensure that it does.
Sincerely,
Members of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union
www.StarbucksUnion.Org