San Francisco Bay Area GMB

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Support this worldwide Divestment and Boycott Campaign Against Israel and Apartheid" appeals Palestinian Labor Leader in Speech

Posted Sat, 07/21/2007 - 3:40am by x344543

Submitted by sparrow, x326388

"We actually don't have any other way to exercise (international) pressure except calling our friends and supporters in the trade unions around the globe to call for this Boycott and Divestment." stated Manawel Issa Abdellal,(see photo) member of the Executive Committee of the 250 thousand member Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) in a recent speech to labor movement supporters in San Francisco.

"Factories actually exist inside the settlements and their products are going to the markets in Europe and in the United States.  The whole world is saying these settlements are actually illegal settlements.  So why would it be wrong to boycott them?"

San Francisco Bay Area IWW leaflets Starbucks in solidarity with Starbucks Workers Union

Posted Mon, 07/16/2007 - 11:47am by x344543

For the third Saturday in a row, a small group of Bay Area IWW members distributed leaflets and information to Starbucks customers, passersby, and workers at one of the many Starbucks locations in the area in solidarity with the Starbucks Workers' Union organizing campaign. 

Reactions were generally positive, and the Bay Area IWW pledges to continue the practice each Saturday at approximately noon at a different location each week.  So far the Bay Area IWW has visited the following Starbucks coffee houses:

  • June 30, 2007 - San Francisco at Powell and O'Farrell Streets (near Union Square).
  • July 7, 2007 - Berkeley at Shattuck and Kittredge near the Shattuck Cinema where the IWW currently is negotiating their first contract.
  • July 14, 2007 - Berkeley at Shattuck and Cedar near Andronicos.

Please join us next Saturday at noon a location to be determined in Oakland.  Call Bruce at 510-355-2261.

CAL STUDENT WORKERS DECLARE VICTORY BUT CONTINUE TO FIGHT

Posted Mon, 06/11/2007 - 2:17am by x344543

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 7, 2007

CONTACT: Tristan Bunner: 805.798.5096, calfoodworker@gmail.com

Student Worker Action Group

Cal Student Workers Declare Victory But Continue Struggle to Win Other Demands

WHAT: After over 7 months of struggle, Cal student workers employed by Cal Dining are declaring a partial victory today.  They have been informed that, as of July 1, 2007, they will receive the base wage rate of $11.25/hr.  This rate is equal to the rate non-Cal student full and part time staffs have received since August of last year, though some non-Cal student staff will soon be receiving $11.70/hr.

Though they are happy that they will finally be receiving equal pay, Cal student food service workers still have many questions about the changes, and feel that many of their demands have not yet been met.  When the new wage rate is implemented, will all Cal student food service workers receive $11.25/hr, or will senior workers who have received raises above the base rate in the past keep their difference in pay over those who have not?

Victory for IWW Barista Against Pregnancy Discrimination at Starbucks!

Posted Wed, 05/30/2007 - 1:31am by x344543

May 30, 2007

Friends of the Starbucks Workers Union:

Thank you! Bowing to grassroots pressure from the Industrial Workers of the World and its allies, Starbucks has notified barista Christina Rosevear that it has decided not to fire her. Christina faced imminent termination five days ago at a scheduled meeting with her store manager who warned that she had abandoned her job after she took doctor-ordered leave for a back ailment related to her pregnancy. The manager had also been cutting Christina's hours in retaliation for taking time off to deal with severe morning sickness.

Tired of distressed sleepless nights and the fear of being fired, Christina decided to join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union and fight back for herself, her nineteen-month old daughter, and her future child. You responded to her call for solidarity.

Urgent call for solidarity! - Pregnant Barista Facing Discrimination and Imminent Termination

Posted Fri, 05/25/2007 - 10:48am by x344543

Sisters and Brothers:

Starbucks barista Christina Rosevear and her 19 month-old daughter need your help now. Christina recently learned that she was pregnant with her second child and she promptly informed the store manager at the Northern California Starbucks where she works. Instead of being considerate of Christina's pregnancy, Starbucks began to discriminate against her.

Christina developed severe morning sickness and needed to take the occasional day off. On several occasions after she took a day off, she'd find that her work hours would be cut the following week depriving her of much needed income. Sometimes she'd receive as little as four hours of work per week! As a single mom and a low-wage worker, Christina can't afford such a dramatic pay cut. Things only got worse and now Christina is facing the prospect of an unjust termination.

Christina's doctor ordered her to take time off work to deal with a pregnancy-related back ailment that may be connected to heavy lifting at Starbucks. When Christina was ready to come back to work, the store manager warned that he might fire her for being away from the job. Christina has a meeting coming up with the manager and it's critical that Starbucks hear from people of conscience now that discriminating against someone for a pregnancy or illness is wrong.

Instead of being brushed under the rug like so many retail workers are everyday, Christina has chosen to fight back and has joined the Starbucks Workers Union [StarbucksUnion.org]. In her own words, "I need some help because I refuse to let a big corporation like Starbucks push me around."

Please lend a hand and stand by Christina as she fights this abuse from Starbucks: Take a moment to participate in this e-mail action demanding that Starbucks not fire Christina and immediately cease discriminating against her: http://starbucksunion.org/node/1641