Union Seeks to Hold Starbucks Accountable for their Union Busting at Home and Abroad
NEW YORK – Monday, July 25th, the IWW Starbucks Workers Union will launch a Global Week of Action in support of their separate but sister union El Sindicato de Trabajadores de Starbucks en Chile (Starbucks Workers Union in Chile).
Over 200 baristas and shift supervisors that work in the 32 Chilean Starbucks locations went on strike on July 7th. They are striking in an effort to have their demands met. Their most crucial demand is earning a higher wage. Currently baristas at Starbucks in Chile make $2.50/hr. while the drinks are still sold for US prices, and they haven’t received raises in 8 years. The baristas are also asking for a lunch stipend in order to eat during their shifts, this is something managers in Chile are provided.
Two weeks, to the day, after the strike began a New York City barista and mother of two young children was fired for announcing her membership in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. The company gave no official reason for her termination but did fire her when she refused to meet with higher ups without her attorney and union representative present, which was a previous agreement between the union and management. Tiffany White-Thomas has worked at the Canal/Broadway Starbucks for over two years. She was up for a promotion when her store manager, Rafael Fox, told her that, being a mother, she would not have the time necessary to dedicate to the company so he would not be promoting her. A letter given to Tiffany’s managers made reference to the collective efforts of the IWW Starbucks Union and the Chilean Strikers. Both unions feel that that this solidarity across borders is seen as a threat to the company and is, in part, what led to Tiffany’s termination.
In New York City, the first solidarity action will be a press conference and picket in front of the Canal and Broadway Starbucks location, 405 Broadway between Walker and Canal St. The IWW is demanding full reinstatement of Tiffany White-Thomas and that Starbucks negotiate in good faith with their brothers and sisters of El Sindicato de Trabajadores de Starbucks en Chile.
Similar actions in support of the Chilean Strikers are expected in various cities throughout the US and the world throughout next week.
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization composed entirely of current and former Starbucks employees who have fought for respect, security, affordable health care and a living wage since 2004. Working together, SWU members have improved working conditions for Starbucks employees and won legal victories against unfair labor practices.
10 comments:
Oh dear Jemmy.
Looks like Starbucks plans on surviving this effort by your union buddies. How dare SB go around opening stores and creating jobs! The cretins! :)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/starbucks-to-increase-new-store-openings-2011-07-28?link=MW_latest_news
Starbucks /quotes/zigman/20720/quotes/nls/sbux SBUX +1.30% , which reported late Thursday fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 34% from the year-ago period, laid out plans to open 800 new stores for its fiscal year that ends September 2012, a 33% increase over this year.
By region, 200 are mapped out for the U.S., equally split between company-operated and licensed stores. Overseas, there will be 600 stores opened, most of which will be licensed. China will account for 25% of the total, or 150. Starbucks wants to have 1,500 stores in China by 2015.
Still a cheerleader for the super-rich? If Schultz is too tight-arsed to pay his wealth makers a living wage he won't be throwing any small change your way. Get off your knees you sycophant, if you're not embarrassed I'm embarrassed for you.
I love people who take risks and create wealth and jobs! They should be rewarded for doing so. No one forces anyone to work at SB. Don't like the wages, start your own coffee shop or go do something else!!!
I'm embarrassed you have so little understanding of how unions destroy opportunity. The us car companies can't compete because their unions are sucking them dry. If unions destroy SB, not only will there not be any good paying jobs, there won't be ANY new jobs.
Why do you think people risk their lives trying to go from Cuba to the us, and never the reversed? Communism and socialism SUCK.
I love wealth creators too, flem -
"The labour of the poor is the source of all that wealth of the state." (Adam Smith)
That's the Adam Smith money-grubbing so-called 'libertarians' revere as their patron saint.
Yea, that barista gig is a tough one. I mean, it's a truly unusual talent to be able to MAKE COFFEE! I'm sad for you Jemmy. Your jealousy and envy clouds what could be a bright mind. As it is, you are in a rave because other have more than you, and can't get beyond that to the real truth of the matter. Worker bees don't have jobs unless someone else creates one for them. If its so easy, go do it yourself and spread all the profits to the glorious proletariat. Show us how its done rather than telling us how it should be.
I suppose you're right about that. It takes more skill to steal from people and stay out of jail.
No, wait a mo, that's capitalism, robbing the poor is legal, robbing the rich is crime. That's where your friend Bernie Madoff went wrong.
Funny thing, you love risk takers but you hate people who risk their livelihoods by joining a union and fighting for their rights. Suck up to the rich, hate the poor because they're poor. Don't try to construct some sort of social theory out of your hate and fear. You're just a snivelling power-worshipping bully.
Meanwhile, Jemmy, you are just a jealous cry baby. You would rather the entire pie be much smaller because of forced "fairness" by union thugs rather than a much larger pie where some have more than others, but there is potential for any and all. I weep for your raging bitterness, I really do. Does it anger you when someone else is prettier, smarter or taller? Do you want to take then down to "average" to ensure they have nothing over any one else? How utterly pathetic.
The only thing I worship is the power of the individual. Collectivism has never created shit. INDIVIDUALS advance technology, discover new medicines, etc. Groups sit around arguing with each other about who will get credit when some individual actually does something. Ive seen it action, and its disgusting.
"Union thugs"
"FYI, we don't care how angry you are. Well [sic] just send more drones your way, if need be..."
I wonder which salivator over the deaths of innocent civilians wrote that? Someone who never heard a shot fired in anger I'll warrant.
Obama nor Bush has heard a shot fired in anger, and they seem able to send out the drones, so who cares?
I promise you Jemmy, I ain't no wimp. Whatever you want to think.
Course, most of the drone pilots work out of warehouses in Fla or Kansas, they never face the smallest combat danger, yet still kill lots of bad guys. It's why they can and will never win.
"Obama nor Bush has heard a shot fired in anger ..."
Precisely my point. It's easy to sit in an office and order someone else to do the killing; never have to risk return fire; never have to clean the blood and brains from your clothing.
It's easy to sit in front of a video screen and stoke up your hate by virtually killing 'Muzzles' and 'Paleos'.
It's easy (for a certain deviant type)to be an irresponsible brain-dead humanoid who calls people thugs for fighting for their de jure, but not de facto, rights.
You make me sick, and you can head back to the Anders Breivik Fan Club website, you've outstayed your welcome here.
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