» IWW Starbucks Workers Union News
IWW Starbucks Workers Union News
Submitted by SWU on Thu, 02/11/2010 - 9:44am. UPDATE: Following our disclosure of the District Managers' letter, Starbucks has been forced to address the issue publicly for the first time. Contrary to its claim, it appears that the company is in fact not taking the complaints from the DMs seriously. Here is Starbucks' short statement:
"Starbucks takes any accusations such as these very seriously. When we were made aware of these claims, we immediately began a thorough internal investigation as per our standard practice. We have found the claims to be without merit."
For Immediate Release:
IWW Starbucks Workers Union
February 11, 2010
Howard Schultz Still Silent Amid Growing Evidence of a Hostile Work Environment
New York, NY- In a risky departure from the normal chain of command, a group of Starbucks district managers have authored an impassioned letter to top executives in Seattle demanding that action be taken against a company vice president allegedly engaged in pervasive sexual harassment.
The letter, which was made available to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, alleges that Regional Vice President Andrew Alfano has created an unsafe work environment with his behavior and is responsible for the departure of two female regional directors, among many other troubling charges.
The district managers are demanding disciplinary action against Mr. Alfano, a favorite of top company brass, and state that they were compelled to act after a widely-watched 20/20 segment aired on Starbucks barista Kati Moore who was repeatedly raped by her supervisor and then subjected to intimidation tactics from Starbucks' lawyers.
The SWU has made the letter available on its website.
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Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 8:37am. STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH KATI MOORE
from the IWW Starbucks Workers Union
Kati Moore is a hero.
We, as workers at Starbucks, stand in complete solidarity with former barista, Kati Moore. Kati, at 20 years old, has far more integrity than the 56 year-old billionaire, Starbucks' CEO, Howard Schultz. She has taken a fierce stand on behalf of every worker who has been made to feel that they were merely the sexual property of an abusive, manipulative employer. When Kati came forward, we felt that she did so in an effort to protect each and every barista at Starbucks, and every underage employee working in retail, from experiencing her pain. We hope that her courage will give others the strength to speak up, and the strength to fight back when they feel they are at their weakest. Kati's experience shows us that we CAN stare down corporations like Starbucks and declare that we deserve to feel safe at work, that we deserve respect, and that we, if victimized, are not alone.
Submitted by SWU on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 5:59pm. For Immediate Release:
Industrial Workers of the World (NYC)
January 18, 2010
IWW demands that coffee giant pay workers the same premium it pays on other federal holidays
New York, NY- The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) branch here held a march and rally at Starbucks today to call on the corporation to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the federal holiday commemorating his birth. The Starbucks Workers Union of the IWW is demanding that Starbucks pay a holiday premium to baristas who work on MLK Day just as the Seattle-based chain does for five other federal holidays.
“Starbucks claims to support diversity with 'the idea of inclusion,' but the company effectively treats MLK Day as a second class holiday,” said Henry Marin, a Starbucks barista and member of the union. “It is truly a dishonor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to the values and ideals that he represents.”
The union rallied outside of the Union Square East Starbucks location with supporters and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra marching band. In between speakers, supporters chanted phrases such as “overpriced coffee, underpaid workers” and “no union, no latte.”
Submitted by SWU on Wed, 12/30/2009 - 10:23pm. Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union
December 30, 2009
Less than two months after a legal defeat in a high-stakes appeal, Starbucks is settling charges of further workers' rights violations committed against baristas organizing with the Industrial Workers of the World for secure work hours, affordable health care, and respect on the job.
After an independent investigation, Region 2 of the National Labor Relations Board in Manhattan brought a complaint against the fast food coffee chain for illegally suspending and reprimanding a barista who stopped work to participate in a union protest; interrogating baristas about their union activity; and tearing down union flyers from company bulletin boards.
This victory should send a message to all working Americans that stopping work to protest alongside fellow workers for fairness on the job is activity protected under federal law.
Earlier this year, Starbucks suffered similar legal losses in Michigan and Minnesota in addition to its defeat at the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C.
While the union is pleased that Starbucks is being held accountable, it won't be joining the pending settlement between the company and the government because we prefer trials in open court where the public can get their own look at CEO Howard Schultz's relentless union-busting operation.
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization of baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors united for a living wage, secure work hours, and affordable health care at the world's largest coffee chain. The union enjoyed robust membership growth around the United States and expanded to Canada this year. Earlier this month, the union welcomed its newest members, from Fort Worth Texas, with a spirited protest action for affordable health care.
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Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/18/2009 - 12:17pm. 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.
Casey Keeling, another union barista at the store, said, “Watching our coworkers be forced to serve customers while they were sick with H1N1 was the last straw. Something needs to change- in our workplace and in this country. We have decided to form a union to fight for affordable health insurance, paid sick days, a fair wage, and secure work hours. And they could at least give us a first aid kit for the store.”
While portraying itself as a ‘socially-responsible’ employer, all of Starbucks' retail hourly workers in the U.S. are part-time employees with no guaranteed number of work hours per week. According to Starbucks figures released to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 40.9% of its employees (including managers) are covered by the company health care package, a lower percentage than the oft-criticized Wal-Mart, which insures 47% of its workforce.
Since the launch of the IWW campaign at Starbucks on May 17, 2004, the company has been cited multiple times for illegal union-busting by the National Labor Relations Board. The company settled numerous complaints against it and a judge's guilty verdict on more than 30 additional rights’ violations was recently upheld on appeal by the Board in D.C. Starbucks’ large anti-union operation is headed by CEO Howard Schultz and operated in conjunction with the Akin Gump law firm and the Edelman public relations firm.
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization of over 300 current and former employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for secure work hours and a living wage. The union has members throughout the United States and Canada fighting for systemic change at the company and remedying individual grievances with management.
Union baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors have fought successfully toward improved scheduling and staffing levels, increased wages, and workplace safety. Workers who join the union have immediate access to co-workers and members of the community who will struggle with them for a better life on the job.
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www.StarbucksUnion.org
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