Grand Rapids Starbucks Union and Spanish CNT Announce a Global Day of Action!
Submitted on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 2:38pm
The Union of Comerical and Hotel workers CNT-AIT
in Sevilla, Spain along with the Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union
(IWW) have announced a Global Day of Action scheduled for July 5th. The
two groups are asking social organizations, unions, and individuals
from around the world to promote and participate in this day of action.
On April 24th, 2008 a barista named Monica was fired for her
union activity from a Starbucks in Sevilla, Spain. She was a member of
the Union of Commercial and Hotel Workers of the Confederacion Nacional
de Trabajadores (CNT). Now with the support of all CNT affiliates, the
International Workers Association, and the Starbucks Workers Union
(IWW) they are demanding justice for Monica.
The treatment of
Monica in Spain by Starbucks is similar to the charges of anti-union
discrimination being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board
in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This new Grand Rapids investigation comes
less than a year since Starbucks signed a settlement agreement with the
NLRB claiming they would end intimidation against baristas interested
in joining the Starbucks Union.
The Grand Rapids Starbucks
Workers Union (IWW) calls on everyone interested in social justice and
worker's rights to confront global coffee giant Starbucks on July 5th
with international solidarity. For Monica in Spain, for baristas in
Grand Rapids, and for coffee farmers around the globe.
Grand Rapids Protest:
4 pm July 5th
Starbucks at 28th St. and East Beltline
The CNT of Sevilla have produced a weblog for the Day of Action (in spanish):
http://seccionstarbuckscnt.wordpress.com/
To get involved locally contact:
Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union
grandrapidsstarbucksunion [at] yahoo.com
616-881-5263
PO Box 6629
Grand Rapids, MI 49516