Starbucks Management Conference in New Orleans Hit with Unexpected Union Protest
Submitted on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 8:52pm
Contact: starbucksunion (at) yahoo.com
October 27, 2008
Starbucks Management Conference in New Orleans Hit with Unexpected Union
Protest
Supporters of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union Took the Streets in an
Energetic Display of Solidarity
New Orleans, LA- Starbucks Coffee Co.'s first national conference for
managers held outside of Seattle and the first since the return of Howard
Schultz as CEO, was rocked by a determined pro-worker demonstration here
yesterday. In the midst of a worsening economic crisis, New Orleans residents
rose up to demand respect for the work of Starbucks baristas and coffee farmers
who are bearing the brunt of the downturn while company executives continue to
rake in millions of dollars.
"We sent a strong message to Starbucks that New Orleans residents are
thirsty for workers' human rights all across the country," said Travis Richey, a
participant in the spirited demonstration. "Howard Schultz must face the fact
that workers have the right to join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union as the
company seeks to make baristas' jobs even more precarious."
The protest began at the Sheraton Hotel where demonstrators confronted
arriving buses of Starbucks managers and handed out pro-worker flyers to
passersby. Behind a banner reading, "Starbucks Stop Your Union Busting Now",
the group then marched to the Morial Convention Center, the site of the
Starbucks Leadership Conference, and chanted in front of a Starbucks store
across the street. At the end of the action, police unlawfully arrested one
protester for allegedly "interfering" with officers who were detaining a fellow
demonstrator without cause.
"The union couldn't be more honored that supporters in New Orleans - a city
which has been preyed on so egregiously by big business and their cronies in
government - showed such powerful solidarity with our struggle," said Daniel
Gross, an organizer with the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. "As the
corporate-sinking of the economy continues, an aggressive movement highlighting
and challenging the dominance of large corporations in our economic, social, and
political life is all but assured."
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is an organization of over 200 baristas,
bussers, and shift supervisors united for secure work hours, a living wage, and
respect on the job. Through direct action, litigation, and public education,
the union has won important gains in wages and working conditions for Starbucks
employees and remedied many serious grievances with management. The Starbucks
Workers Union is a campaign of the Industrial Workers of the World, a union
which is controlled and operated by its members.