Tomer's blog

Judge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks case

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:11:21 -0400

Judge draws clear line at tip jar in Starbucks case; small California businesses likely to be affected too07:15 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008

By LOU HIRSH
The Press-Enterprise

Dipping into its
employees' tip jars could get Starbucks into hot water in other places
besides California, local legal experts said, and similar businesses
will need to take heed of issues raised in the high-profile civil suit
against the coffee giant.

Cynthia Germano, a labor lawyer
with Best Best & Krieger in Riverside, said the Starbucks dispute
puts a spotlight on California laws that have been on the books for
several years.

Will Starbucks reveal Calorie count

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:12:45 -0400

In the Summer of 2006 Union Baristas in NYC and the Center for Science in
the Public expressed their concern over the massive amount of calories in Starbucks drinks and pastries. The Union was horrified at chalk boards recommending a Venti Banana Coconut Frappuccino and a banana nut bar which together equated over 1000 calories.

The Union called on Starbucks to display calorie content to all. People need to know what they are putting in their bodies.

Today that demand is almost a reality. The NYC Health Department has mandated all restaurants to list their calorie data as a means of fighting obesity. The Restaurant industry is challenging the order and the Health Department has agreed to push back the deadline to April 15th and wait for a court decision.

The SWU calls on Starbucks to provide the Nutrition Information Regardless.

Starbucks has previously stated “We believe nutrition information should be
readily available.” but now they are back peddling and released a statement saying “Starbucks will be
fully compliant with the regulation when it goes into effect.”

Starbucks to Appeal Tip-Sharing Ruling

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:33:22 -0400

SEATTLE (AP) — Starbucks Corp. plans to appeal a San Diego Superior
Court ruling last week that ordered the coffee chain to compensate
California baristas for tips they shared with shift supervisors.

"The
ruling would take away the right of shift supervisors to receive the
tips they earn for providing superior customer service," said Chief
Executive Howard Schultz, in a voicemail message to employees Wednesday
night. "I want you to know that we strongly believe that this ruling is
extremely unfair and beyond reason."

In the message, a transcript
of which was released by Starbucks, Schultz said the media "grossly
mischaracterized" the coffee chain's standard practice of allowing
shift supervisors to share in tips left for baristas.

"We would
never condone any type of behavior that would lead anyone to conclude
that we would take money from our people," he said.

Schultz vowed
that the company would appeal the ruling and defend itself against two
similar lawsuits filed this week in Minnesota and Massachusetts.

ISRAEL: Histadrut, 'Coffee Bean' sign breakthrough labor agreement

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:57:47 -0400

By Haim Bior, Haaretz Correspondent

The
Histadrut labor federation and the coffee shop chain "The Coffee Bean"
signed a labor agreement on Tuesday, ending a long dispute between the
company's employees in the 14 branches nationwide and the management.

This marks the first collective agreement between the Histadrut and a restaurant.

The agreement will allocate 10 percent of the chain's yearly profit
to its employees. In addition, an employee who works for at least a
year in the chain will receive benefits reaching between half their
salary and a full salary.

Coffee Bean Workers May Reach A Settlement

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:27:50 -0500

Since January 22, 2008 workers at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co. in Tel-Aviv have been on strike. The international coffee chain “Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co.”, has thus far failed to come to an agreement with the Histardrut (Israel’s Labor Federation), which represents workers at the chain.

As soon as the Strike began the Histardrut mobilized workers across the country and nearly shut down the entire chain in Israel. International pressure through the International Union of Food Workers has aided in increasing the pressure. Management has since then sat down with the Histardrut but not with the workers themselves. A settlement may be reached soon. If a settlement is not reached soon the labor federation may go back into the streets.

Campaign History:

Israeli Restaurant Workers Strike for Union Rights at Coffee Bean

-https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8439/index.php

Prina's story

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:58:45 -0500

Hi my name is Prina and I worked at starbucks from june 2007 until i
was fired 12 days before christmas. Besides being a loyal barista in
Washingtonian Starbucks in Gaithersburg, Md I am also a mother of 2.
I got fired for speaking up. I was sexually harassed and
assaulted by co-workers on 2 separate occasions. Both incidents were
brought up to my store manager and nothing was done. After witnessing
how unaccountable starbucks is to baristas I started keeping a work
journal of all the events that occur ed. I started seeing other things
like fraud, theft, management stealing time, and being forced to work.
I was shocked at what was happening at my store. I became even more
distrubed when the barista who had assaulted me got promoted.

Starbucks was trying to transfer me. It seemed like i saw too much.
I was getting harassed about transferring from upper management, the
District manager and Partner Resources coordinator (human resources) I

WSJ: Starbucks Mugs Some Employees' Workplace Rights

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:33:49 -0500

WSJ: Starbucks Mugs Some Employees' Workplace Rights

Dennis Schaal

Starbucks’
2006 Corporate Social Responsibility report promises a "great work
environment" and notes that it expects its suppliers to respect "the
rights of individuals" and to adhere to international standards
regarding worker treatment, but the Seattle-based caffeine retailer
reportedly fell a little short in its stance toward some of its U.S.
employees who may have been exercising their lawful rights to support
unionization efforts at some Starbucks locations.

Join the Cause, demand Starbucks Pay a holiday premium on MLK day

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:14:24 -0500

Join the Cause, demand Starbucks Pay a holiday premium on MLK day and donate today!

visit http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/52875, by donating you are giving the SWU a chance to win $50,000!

As the world rings in 2008 Starbucks has still refused to Honor Martin Luther King by paying Baristas a holiday premium on January 21st. If Starbucks really cared about diversity and equality the company would honor a hero who understood that there cannot be "social justice without economic justice". Starbucks claims to be a leader among socially responsible corporations, the union is demanding Starbucks step up and walk its talk. Starbucks, pay a holiday premium on January 21 and make 2008 the first year baristas receive a holiday premium on Martin Luther King Day

for more info on the challenge visit http://apps.facebook.com/causes/giving