Statement of the Starbucks Workers Union on its Fifth Anniversary
Submitted on Sat, 05/23/2009 - 3:31pm
May 17, 2009 marks five years since baristas at a Starbucks in New York
City announced their membership in the Industrial Workers of the World and
launched a campaign open to employees throughout the company. A worker-led
organizing effort with the legendary IWW at the world's largest coffee chain
could have been a flash in the pan? brilliant and inspiring, but brief. But a
fire was lit and a movement began. The idea that Starbucks workers could
organize themselves and speak in their own voice, independent of company
executives and union bureaucrats, could not be restrained.
The bosses did their best to defeat us, to bury any indication of our
existence under a heap of lies and retaliatory firings. They tried to stamp us
out, even as the campaign for secure jobs and a living wage burst from New York
into Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and beyond.
While Starbucks used the economic crisis as a pretext for an all-out
assault on our already meager standard of living, our struggle gained momentum
this year amidst a stark decline of the company's brand and widespread store
closures. Baristas around the country and around the world made the decision to
organize and fight back against severe cuts in work hours, chronic under
staffing, and a new "Optimal Scheduling" program which forces many workers to be
available to Starbucks for over 80 hours a week without being guaranteed a
single work hour.
This journey has been full of set-backs and tests of will. Progress has
been made yet much remains to be done. But one thing is certain: our voice for
dignity is firmly planted and our union?s future is bright.
The biggest battles remain ahead, but every day our ranks deepen. We are
confident in our solidarity and could not be more proud to be associated with
our fellow workers across the IWW and like-minded unionists around the world.
This year, courageous baristas in Chile became the first Starbucks workers in
Latin America to raise a union banner.
The corporate-controlled economic, social, and political model has been
exposed everywhere as a failure for working families. And everyday workers are
bolder and more assertive in the fight against injustice and exploitation. The
notion that democracy has no place at work has been exposed as a lie.
To every worker who loves liberty: this is our time!
Together we organize. Together we struggle. Together we win!