IWW Starbucks Union News

Steamed Baristas Shut Down Fort Worth Starbucks Drive-Thru, Demand Affordable Healthcare and Paid Sick Days for those with H1N1

Fri, 12/18/2009 - 10:17am -- Anonymous

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IWW Starbucks Workers Union (Industrial Workers of the World)
Contact: Michele Cahill, 817-368-5892

December 18, 2009

Steamed Baristas Shut Down Fort Worth Starbucks Drive-Thru to Demand Affordable Healthcare and Paid Sick Days for those Diagnosed with H1N1

Press Conference: December 18, 12:00 noon, 8th and W. Rosedale Starbucks, Fort Worth

Fort Worth, TX- Baristas and community supporters at the 8th and Rosedale Starbucks shut down the store’s drive-thru this morning and delivered a list of demands including affordable health care options and sick days for those displaying H1N1 or other cold and flu symptoms. Starbucks doubled the cost of the company health insurance plan in September, leaving many workers unable to afford treatment because of sky-high deductibles and premiums.

“We’ve had enough. Baristas should not be forced to expose customers to H1N1 or other contagions and stay sick longer, just in order to be able to make the money they need to support their families and pay astronomical health care costs. We’re making $7.30/hr., that’s a nickel above minimum wage,” said IWW Barista Michelle Cahill.

The protesting baristas are members of the Starbucks Workers Union, which is an international campaign of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) labor union. The store action makes the 8th and Rosedale location the first Starbucks in Texas to have a public union presence.

Baristas decided to move toward unionization after many workers were forced to continue working while displaying intense H1N1 and other flu symptoms, enhancing the likelihood of spreading the flu virus. The baristas are demanding that those who display H1N1 or other cold and flu symptoms be excused from work with pay to avoid exposing customers to Swine Flu.

Have You Been Interrogated by Starbucks 'Partner & Asset Protection'? Get in Touch!

Tue, 09/08/2009 - 1:55pm -- Anonymous

We are looking for current and former Starbucks employees who have been interrogated by Partner & Asset Protection. There is mounting evidence that Starbucks' use of harsh police-style interrogation tactics has lead to numerous false confessions, which Starbucks has then used to terminate or extort 'restitution' from employees.  If this has happened to you or you know of such an incident please contact starbucksunion@yahoo.com. We are particularly interested in hearing from victims of interrogations in Northern California. We are gathering testimonials from impacted workers to prepare a potential class action lawsuit against the company. Your inquiry will remain confidential.

Demand Justice for Aizze! Defend an Immigrant Worker Unfairly Targeted by Starbucks

Sun, 08/09/2009 - 11:11pm -- Anonymous

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Aizze was the best barista at the Snelling & Selby Starbucks in St. Paul, MN. She knew every regular's drink and could make a latte in 28 seconds.  She has 20 MUG awards for her job performance, and was never written up in her two years of service, nor was her till ever ‘over’ or ‘short.’ Her coworkers and customers loved her; they called her 'Aizze' (pronounced 'Ozzie'), short for Azmera. This description is in the past tense because Starbucks wrongfully fired Aizze on July 8, 2009. Starbucks management accused her of theft, although they themselves ADMIT that they have no video or other evidence to support their accusation.


Adding insult to injury, Saint Paul District Manager Claire Gallagher took advantage of Aizze’s limited English abilities and bullied and manipulated her into signing a promissory note saying she would pay Starbucks the arbitrarily- determined amount of $1200. Acting through the notoriously anti-worker law firm Olonoff, Asen & Serebro,. LLP, Starbucks has since sent Aizze a letter threatening to send their baseless claim to a collections agency.

IWW Starbucks Union Condemns Starbucks Doubling Health Insurance Costs

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 2:39pm -- SWU

For Immediate Release:

IWW Starbucks Workers Union
Media Contacts:
Aaron Kocher - 612-220-6454
Liberte Locke - 917-693-7742

July 28, 2009

IWW Starbucks Union Condemns Starbucks Doubling Health Insurance Costs
Health Coverage Cuts Come Amidst Soaring Profits

Starbucks, amid massive profits, announced on Monday that it will slash employee health care benefits. The company announced that premiums for its most economical employee health care package will nearly double, along with across the board increases in out-of-pocket expenses. This slap in the face to workers comes just one week after the announcement of $151 million in profits for the quarter, far exceeding internal and Wall Street expectations.

These cuts are an insult to Starbucks workers, and the thousands of workers who have been laid off in the last year. The increased costs of health benefits will be a barrier to many workers thinking of enrolling, forcing them to make the hard decision between health care coverage and feeding their families.

We expect more from Starbucks as a leading Fortune 500 company that builds its brand image on its treatment of its "partners", what it calls employees. Starbucks has a responsibility to provide affordable, quality healthcare to its workers, who are responsible for its enormous profits. Instead, Starbucks continues to use health care benefits as a marketing tool, while actually covering a lower percentage of its workforce than the notoriously unethical Wal-Mart.

Starbucks has repeatedly shown that it cannot be trusted to compensate us fairly. We believe as workers we must organize together to hold Starbucks accountable, and give us the respect and dignity we deserve.

About the IWW Starbucks Workers Union:

Starbucks Workers Union Gains Momentum as Campaign Expands to Canada

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 10:54am -- SWU

Contacts:

Simon Gosselin, IWW Starbucks Workers Union, Quebec - 418-265-2017
Aaron Kocher, IWW Starbucks Workers Union, USA - 612-220-6454

July 16, 2009

Quebec City Starbucks Baristas Steamed over New Scheduling Demands

Quebec City, Canada – Steamed over unreasonable new scheduling demands and deteriorating working conditions, baristas at the Germain-de-Prés Avenue Starbucks filed for union accreditation Monday, becoming the first store in Canada to affiliate with the Starbucks Workers Union, a campaign of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union. The Labor Relations Commission of Quebec will grant the union accreditation after verifying their authorization cards in the next few days.

Policy changes related to Starbucks’ new “Optimal Scheduling” program, one of a slew of recent schemes intended to slash labor costs, provided the main impetus for unionization. Under the new policy, Starbucks requires nearly around-the-clock availability from workers, while refusing to guarantee a single work hour each week.

"Starbucks workers have no job security and make a poverty wage, but at least until now, the hours were flexible, which was convenient for the many students who work here," said Simon Gosselin, a member of the union in Quebec City. "These policy changes would force our six shift supervisors, who are students as well, to take demotions, and a 10% pay cut.”

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