Statement of Solidarity from David Bleakney, National Union Representative - Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Submitted on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 3:29am
Monday 31/07/2006 - 10:06 PM
Dear (Starbucks) Chairman Howard Schultz,
As a representative of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers I am appalled that IWW member and Starbucks barista Daniel Gross is being investigated by your company and faces termination for engaging in lawful protected activity. Standing side-by-side with an embattled co-worker and fellow union member as Daniel did is the essence of the labor movement. Retaliating against Daniel for engaging in mutual aid is both immoral and illegal.
For a company that claims to be socially responsible, I am disgusted that Starbucks tramples so egregiously on the rights of its workers. Freedom of association on the job is a fundamental human right that must not be flouted with impunity as Starbucks is doing.
I demand that Starbucks does not fire Daniel Gross and respects the right of every worker to join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. I further demand that all the IWW members fired from Starbucks for union activity who have not yet been reinstated- Joe Agins Jr., Charles Fostrom, and Evan Winterscheidt- get their jobs back immediately.
In any event I am sure that our 55,000 members will want to know about your labour practices and act accordingly. I will sure to let them know should this not be resolved.
Please rectify this transparent injustice immediately.
Sincerely,
Dave Bleakney - National Union Representtaive - Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Dear Chairman Shultz:
Over a week ago I wrote you on this matter. So far I have not had the courtesy of a reply. I was hoping to give Starbucks the benefit of the doubt in hopes that you might correct this situation. Unfortunately I am still at a loss to understand why starbucks is Union busting and harrassing Union organizers. I will be returning to my office on August 17. Should I receive no reply by that time I will be including a notice in our next mailout to over 230 locals across Canada in order to inform our 55,000 members about Starbaucks level of "corporate responsibility" when dealing with it's
workers.
Should that not garner a response from you perhaps labour councils and federations of labour will add Starbucks to their boycott lists. Should management complain if pickets appear at some of your facilities should their inquiries be directed at you or is there someone else that has the capacity to repond?
Please reply and tell me this is all a bad dream.
Yours truly,
Dave Bleakney - National Union Representative - Canadian Union of Postal Workers