Mall of America Starbucks Baristas Walk Off Job, Protest Closures
Starbucks union plans protest of nationwide closures at MOA
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Starbucks baristas at the Mall of America location walked off the job Monday and delivered a letter to management demanding “just treatment” of all employees affected by Starbucks' store closures nationwide.
The barista walkout comes days after Starbucks announce the closure of 600 stores nationwide, including 27 in Minnesota.
BARISTA DEMANDS
The baristas demanded a severance package of closure-affected workers, plus the option to transfer to other stores.
The Starbucks Workers Union says the company plans to give workers one month notice before laying them off with “a paltry two weeks' pay.” The union also says Starbucks will "insist some baristas transfer and will revoke severance pay if transfer offers are refused."
Starbucks pays baristas a wage of $7.60 per hour -- a rate above minimum wage, but below an amount baristas find satisfactory.
"With the skyrocketing cost of living, workers have no other choice than to stand up for improvements on the job,” former barista Erik Foreman said. “Even at Starbucks in the Mall of America, we can organize and fight!"
MINNESOTA MINIMUM WAGE
There are three minimum wages in effect in Minnesota: $5.25 an hour at businesses with gross yearly sales of less than $500,000; the federal minimum of $5.85 at businesses with sales between $500,000 and $625,000; and $6.15 for larger companies. Starting July 24, all employers with sales topping $500,000 must pay the new federal minimum of $6.55 an hour.
Union Link: www.StarbucksUnion.org