Justice from Bean to Cup

By Moses Njagih and agencies

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143961897

Angry farmers from a coffee factory in Nyeri District have blasted officials of the Starbucks Coffee Company for refusing to respond to their questions on a project the multinational is undertaking in the area.

The American coffee retailer is involved in the Kenya Heartland Coffee project, to help farmers to improve the quality of their crop.

But during a visit by Starbuck officials, irate farmers of Kihuyo Coffee Factory accused Mr James Donald, the company’s president, of using them to rake in billions in profits. The American official had tough meetings with Ethiopian coffee growers earlier in the week.

Kihuyo and Kiamariga factories in Mathira division are involved in the Heartland project.

"Starbucks interests are only in making profits from our coffee, and yet they are not even mindful about our welfare," asked Mr John Kabira, a farmer.

Donald was accompanied by company’s Managing Director, Mr Alain Poncelet, and two senior vice presidents: Mr Dub Hays (procurements) and Ms Sandra Taylor, who is in charge of social corporate responsibilities.

He also refused to speak to the press on the project, in which his company is partnering with African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).

Starbucks officials are in the country to inspect the progress of the project that aims at helping farmers improve on their production and quality of coffee.

Another farmer Mrs Mary Wanjiku, said that besides the project, the multi-billion company that controls thousands of coffee shops in the world should have considered advancing them loans to help improve on the quality.

"We did not come here just to instal him (Donald) as a Kikuyu elder. He should have given us a chance to ask him questions on the benefits of the project. His refusal to do so makes the whole thing suspect," complained Kabira.

From the IWW Starbucks Workers Union

A Campus Campaign for Starbucks Baristas and Coffee Farmers

Friends:

This is a call for activists towards a campus campaign to achieve dignity on the job for Starbucks baristas and coffee farmers.

Despite its attempt to create a socially responsible image, Starbucks' failure to meaningfully embrace Fair Trade coffee has left coffee farmers and their children teetering on the brink of starvation in the Global South. A new documentary, Black Gold (www.blackgoldmovie.com), reveals in detail the pained existence of coffee farmers under the purchasing practices of Starbucks and other multinational corporations.

In Starbucks cafes, baristas are paid a poverty wage and the company insures a lower percentage of employees than Wal-Mart. Starbucks baristas are organizing a union (www.starbucksunion.org) with the Industrial Workers of the World for a better life on and off the job. In response, the company has waged a fierce and relentless anti-union campaign that tramples on workers' rights. In this union-busting operation unburdened by the law, Starbucks routinely retaliates against baristas for supporting the union. In addition, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz recently broke the union of roasting plant employees.

Coffee farmers and baristas need solidarity from students and workers to rein in Starbucks. Starbucks does not deserve to operate on campuses until it respects the rights of workers.

To that end, the IWW Starbucks Workers Union is forming a coalition of individuals and groups over the summer to launch a campaign in the fall to remove Starbucks products and non-union Starbucks-licensed cafes from campus unless Starbucks makes a non-token commitment to Fair Trade and respects the right of baristas to organize a union. Campus communities will also support workers in their local area organizing for justice at Starbucks.