One guy brewing, 10 guys watching.
Posted on 08/31/2006 9:32:07 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
Union claims Starbucks win
August 31, 2006
A union claiming to represent Starbucks Corp. workers at a handful of coffeehouses said Wednesday that employees of the Logan Square store have declared their membership, becoming the first outside New York City to do so.
The baristas at the Logan Square Starbucks, 2759 W. Logan Blvd., joined the IWW Starbucks Workers Union on Tuesday night, the union said. They issued a set of demands that included a living wage, guaranteed work hours and the reinstatement of IWW baristas fired for organizing activity.
Starbucks, the world's largest specialty coffee maker, often is lauded for offering generous benefits that include health insurance for part-time workers. But the two-year-old union, which has members at seven Starbucks locations, contends that workers face low wages and barriers to health care and other benefits.
Union representatives declined to say whether other organizing activities are under way in Chicago.
Seattle-based Starbucks did not respond to telephone messages seeking comment.
In March, Starbucks settled an unfair labor practice charge the union filed with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of violating federal law by creating a national policy prohibiting workers from sharing written union information or wearing buttons.
The company admitted no wrongdoing in its settlement, but was forced to post detailed notices explaining workers' rights to organize at three stores named in the complaint. It also offered two workers their jobs back and gave three employees back pay totaling less than $2,000.
Because the IWW has never formally negotiated with the company and is not certified under the National Labor Relations Act, Starbucks contends none of its U.S. stores is unionized. Nevertheless, the IWW claims to represent dues-paying members who have bargained for certain job improvements, including pay raises.
Daniel Gross, a former barista who has led organizing efforts at Starbucks, has refused to disclose how many members the union has, characterizing it only as a ''modest-sized group'' with ''positive membership growth.''
AP
My last starbux coffer.
They are so pretentions. "Baristas." "Ventes." When the only available coffee place I can find is a Starbucks, so I have to go there, I always order a "large black decaff." They get very peeved when you don't play their idiot little name games. Hehehe.
I must say I'm amused at the idea of Starbucks baristas being allowed into the Wobblies. The class struggle is over, brothers and sisters. The bourgeoisie won.
I predict that there's shortly about to be one less Starbucks in the world.
Followed by the grand opening of a new Starbucks located, coincidentally enough, a few blocks away.
Poofter coffee joint.never interested.
Oh, give me a break. If you want a living wage, get some training for a REAL job.
One guy brewing, 10 guys watching.
It's not a big deal. It's Italian and Italian has never seemed pretentious to me. Their theme is "Italian coffee bar." Americans have accepted "pizza", "mozzarella", "spaghetti", "parmesan" and numerous other words. Come on, a few more won't hurt. It's not like it's French or anything! ;-)
You can't be in a Union if you are a manager. :)
These "organized" folks are simply out to hijack the company. I'm only pt but I started out $2-$3 above our state's min wage. It's not meant to be a life time career. At least not in my life time.
Hey, I'm all in favor of the unionization of Starbucks. They can serve all our government union people.
I'll get my cup o joe in a place where they only serve Coffee Flavored Coffee.
Hell, either that or Jolt Cola.
Anyhow, it's pretty great when companies that act soooo progressive find picketers in front of their storefronts; the founders who probably started out as Vietnam war protestors now find themselves being protested. Ahh, what's that long German word that begins with an "S"?
Etymology: 1982; Ital
Is that a life-long career goal of some folks, that they need a "living wage" for? Or more of a stop-gap job you eventually move on from to one that does provide a living wage; management, etc.?
Yep, welcome to the slippery slope. It was only a matter of time before other big, successful corporations began getting "Wal-Marted".
The Starbucks guy is a big greenie. I'll bet he thought that made him immune to big labor.
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