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Twin Cities GMB

What do Starbucks and Wal-Mart have in common?

Submitted by intexile on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 8:54pm.
What do Starbucks and Wal-Mart have in common?
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/brave-new-films-what-do-starbucks-and-wal-mart-have-in-common/3338219676

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Disclaimer - The opinions of the author do not necessarily match those of the IWW. This article is reposted in accordance to Fair Use guidelines.


Yet Another Federal Labor Complaint Against Starbucks, Emblematic of a Company in Decline

Submitted by intexile on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:33am.
17-count Charge Latest in a String of Setbacks for Brand

Minneapolis -- The Starbucks Workers Union announced today that the National Labor Relations Board has found merit with 17 counts of labor rights violations at Starbucks in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The fresh charges come on the heels of a "guilty" verdict in New York Federal Court on nearly 30 similar charges last December. Once seen as a paragon of social responsibility and entrepreneurial innovation, the coffee giant's image has recently been tarnished with mounting evidence of rampant labor violations, on top of sliding profits, increased market competition, and declining consumer demand.

Mall of America Starbucks barista Erik Forman commented, "Since the recession began, Starbucks has been slashing benefits, laying off workers, reducing hours, and increasing the workload on Baristas in a quixotic effort to maintain boom-era profitability. As our standard of living comes under attack, the need for a union has never been greater. Starbucks must respect our right to association."


Starbucks Cowers to the IWW

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:37pm.

Media Statement delivered January 7: Faced with the prospect of losing another trial in front of the National Labor Relations Board the Regional Director has agreed to let Starbucks settle the charges against them and forego the trial that was to begin today. The union is upset that the Board is agreeing to accept another Starbucks settlement in Grand Rapids instead of holding them accountable in open court. If this most recent settlement is approved it will be 3rd one allowed by the board in Grand Rapids. With the signing of each settlement Starbucks has said they would end their anti-union intimidation and each time it has continued unabated. We can be sure it will continue which is why union membership is so vital.

Had the trial gone on here today in Grand Rapids we would have detailed the same type of union busting activity that Starbucks was found guilty of a couple weeks ago in New York. Internal communications would have been admitted into evidence showing upper management discussions about union organizing in Grand Rapids and speculation about barista's union sympathies. The same type of surveillance and monitoring that was going on in New York. Also, Starbucks selectively enforced the attendance policy, scheduled baristas based on their union sympathies, and gave me less in raises because of my union affiliation. Based on the evidence that would have been presented its unbelievable that Howard Schultz doesn't have knowledge of the huge anti-union operation in place at Starbucks. Its possible hes directing the whole operation.

On July 5th of last year there was a Global Day of Action against Starbucks called by the Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union and the Seville (Spain) CNT. The Day of Action was called after Monica was fired from a Starbucks in Seville and I was fired here in Grand Rapids. Over 200 Starbucks were picketed in over 80 cities in 20 countries. We have a message from the CNT with an update of Monica's situation.


Starbucks union-busting complaints brewing

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:32pm.

Disclaimer - The opinions of the author do not necessarily match those of the IWW. This article is reposted in accordance to Fair Use guidelines.

By Paul Demko - The Minnesota Indepedent, January 9, 2009

About a dozen former and current Starbucks workers gathered outside the coffee chain’s outlet at the intersection of Nicollet and Franklin avenues on Thursday morning, circling on the sidewalk in the single-digit temperatures and carrying placards that read “Justice for Baristas” and “Starbucks Workers Union.”

“Starbucks Union here to stay,” they chanted. “These lattes are union-made.”

The event coincided with the filing of 11 labor violation charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Among the accusations against the ubiquitous coffee retailer: Employees were illegally fired or punished for engaging in union activities; store managers wrongly prohibited discussions of organizing efforts at work; and pro-union workers were spied on by management.

“Starbucks has flagrantly violated the National Labor Relations Act on countless occasions,” said Aaron Kocher, an employee at the Nicollet Avenue shop.


Minnesota Progressive - Trade Union Betrayal on Healthcare

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:22pm.

By Michael Cavlan - from Opednews.com, January 12, 2009.

On January 8, 2009, there was a Press Conference in the Minnesota Capitol in St Paul, organized by a coalition of "Trade Union" and so called "progressive" groups.

The organization included TakeAction Minnesota, AFSCME Council 5, Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, Education Minnesota, ISAIAH, Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU Minnesota State Council, The AFL-CIO.

The Press Conference was organized to trumpet "coalition representing 350,000 Minnesotans will launch its "Make Health Happen" campaign to reform the state's health care system, which now leaves hundreds of thousands of state residents without health coverage and many thousands more underinsured."

These group of self described "progressives" support the "Minnesota Health Security Act" to be Introduced The group will also unveil the "Minnesota Health Security Act" (MHSA) which charts a clear path to guaranteed affordable health coverage for all Minnesotans, starting with children. It will be introduced in both the House and Senate. The bill is based on the Children's health Security Act, which successfully passed the state House in 2007. The bill's authors, Representative Paul Thissen and Senator Tony Lourey, will participate in the event.

Union Starbucks Baristas Spill the Beans in New Blog

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 12/24/2008 - 5:06am.
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

Blog: http://tcsbuxunion.com

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.

Starbucks Union Rallies

Submitted by intexile on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 2:30am.

Friday, November 28, 2008:

The "Black Friday" rallies in support of the Starbucks Workers union were a tremendous success today. Many fellow workers took the light rail train from Minneapolis to the Megamall in Bloomington. Unlike the last time, there were no riot police to intercept the train. We held a rally on public property, across from the north entrance to the mall. Speakers from The Starbucks Workers Union, The IWW, Students for a Democratic Society, and several local progressive trade unions; all voiced their support to the Starbucks workers and to the right of those workers to organize.

After the Megamall rally, supporters took the train back to Minneapolis for a rally at the newest unionized Starbucks store at Nicollet and Franklin. We presented a "Welcome to the Union" cake to the workers in that store. Even though the district manager was in the store at the time, events went off without incident.

After presenting the cake, we went across the street from Starbucks, where we gave away fair trade coffee which had been donated by a local fair trade shop. We had several discussions with passers-by concerning our demands that Starbucks recognize the right of their workers to organize a union, and that Starbucks pledge to use fair trade coffee in their shops. The idea was to show that there is a trail of worker exploitation which begins on coffee plantations where "Third World" workers are paid as little as a dollar a day for their hard work...and continues with the abuse of Starbuck baristas in the shops where that coffee is sold.

Congratulations to the courageous workers at the newest organized Starbucks, and thanks to everyone who participated in today's events.

Starbucks at Franklin and Nicollet becomes first City of Minneapolis location to go union!

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:34pm.
Contacts:
Aaron Kocher, SWU organizer, Franklin and Nicollet Starbucks: 612-220-6454
Brendan O'Donnell, IWW member at large: 612-306-7517
Erik Forman, SWU organizer, Mall of America Starbucks: 608-695-8705

Press Conferece: 11am November 13, corner of Franklin and Nicollet

Minneapolis, MN- Baristas from the Starbucks Coffee located at the intersection of Nicollet and Franklin Avenues in Minneapolis walked off the floor Wednesday morning to present a petition to management, signed by more than 500 concerned customers and community members, demanding Starbucks hire a security guard to ensure the safety of its patrons and partners.  The workers in turn declared their affiliation with the Starbucks Workers Union, a campaign of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union, becoming the first Starbucks in Minneapolis, and the second in Minnesota, to go union.

A press conference will be held Thursday, November 13, at 11 am, in front of the Franklin and Nicollet Starbucks to celebrate the solidarity of the workers and demand that Starbucks hire a security guard.

Initially, the store partners circulated an internal petition, compiling signatures from most of the store's employees, requesting a meeting to discuss the security situation.  After receiving no productive response from either the store or district manager, the employees turned to the
customers to prove their point.

"We hoped management would recognize the need to discuss these concerns with us, but when they refused to even hold a meeting, we knew more action was needed," said Aaron Kocher, a current store employee.  "We can't work when we are constantly being harassed, threatened, and intimidated, or trying to protect our customers from the same mistreatment," he said.