Police Surveillance of the IWW Starbucks Campaign Revealed by Lawsuit
Submitted on Fri, 05/18/2007 - 4:03am
New York Police Department files released as part of a lawsuit stemming from the 2004 Republican National Convention reveal that the police engaged in unlawful surveillance of the Industrial Workers of the World. The IWW took to the streets with Rev. Billy during the RNC in front of an NYC Starbucks store to condemn the Bush Administration's support for Starbucks' union-busting.
While it's not surprising that with Capital in distress the State came to the rescue, it's nonetheless appalling that the police used the coercive power of the government to serve the interests of union-busting.
The New York Times has an article on the document release.
A preview of the IWW protest is contained in this police document.
The arrest of two IWW baristas at the protest is contained in this police document.The State's attempt to help Starbucks defeat our campaign for dignity on the job was unsuccessful. Thanks to the hard work of baristas and our supporters, since the RNC Starbucks workers have gone on to win important gains in wages and working conditions using solidarity unionism.