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Union Starbucks Baristas Spill the Beans in New Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Erik Forman, 608 695 8705
Starbucks Workers Union/IWW

December 23, 2008

Twin Cities Starbucks Baristas to Spill the Beans in New Blog - Starbucks Workers Union Invites Public to 'Look Behind the Brand


Minneapolis, MN-- the Starbucks Workers Union announced today that Twin Cities Baristas have launched a new blog to document their struggle against poverty wages, inconsistent scheduling, and job insecurity at the world's largest coffee chain.

Union Barista Aaron Kocher said, "This is the blog that Howard Schultz doesn't want you to read. As Starbucks' overpaid executives gut the company to feed greedy investors, we will bring the truth behind the brand into the public eye."

The blog, accessible at http://tcsbuxunion.com, will provide an inside look at working conditions at Starbucks, keeping the public abreast of Starbucks' vicious attempts to thwart worker unionization amidst deteriorating working conditions.

Background on the IWW  Starbucks Workers Union
While portraying itself as a 'socially-responsible' employer, Starbucks pays baristas a poverty wage of $7.60/hr.  In addition, all retail hourly workers at Starbucks in the United States 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 two complaints against it and is awaiting a decision by a judge in New York on more than 30 additional rights' violations.  Starbucks' large anti-union operation is operated in conjunction with the Akin Gump law firm and the Edelman public relations firm.
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The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization of over 200 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 fighting for systemic change at the company and remedying individual grievances with management.  The SWU has been
especially active in New York City, Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Minneapolis.