STARBUCKS INFAMY: IWW Organizer Daniel Gross Terminated for Union Activity

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1016

Terminated For Union Activity!
STARBUCKS INFAMY: IWW Organizer Daniel Gross Terminated for Union Activity!
Submitted by SWU on Sat, 08/05/2006 - 5:15pm.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

www.starbucksunion.org
August 5, 2006

The Starbucks "investigation" of IWW member Daniel Gross concluded today with his termination after more than three years of organizing at the company. Daniel's expression of solidarity at a union picket line with co-worker and fellow union member, Evan Winterscheidt, was deemed threatening by Starbucks despite multiple eyewitnesses who confirm that Daniel merely asserted to District Manager Allison Marx that Evan should not be fired. With the termination of IWW members Daniel Gross, Evan Winterscheidt, Joe Agins Jr., and Charles Fostrom in less than a year, Starbucks has demonstrated conclusively its intense hostility to the right of workers to join a union.

To provide additional cover for the unlawful termination, Starbucks issued Daniel a blatantly discriminatory performance review today with negative ratings for things like, "not communicating partner morale issues to the Store Manager." The manager confirmed that morale issues included complaints about wages and working conditions. Last we checked, an employer may not mandate an employee to engage in surveillance of co-worker's protected activities.

Far from breaking our campaign, Starbucks has done the opposite. The current and former Starbucks workers who proudly carry the red Industrial Workers of the World membership card vow to redouble our efforts to achieve an independent voice on the job. The right to free association at work is fundamental and not subject to compromise. But to vindicate our right to union membership, we need support from you, the working class; the class that built this society with our sweat and indeed with our blood.

The multinational retailers like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, and Borders seek totalitarian control of the workplace. The way forward to reign in these massive corporations is a social movement of workers and community members. The Wobblies at Starbucks have proven that by taking direct action against the company over issues of concern to workers and by avoiding the skewed certification process of NLRB elections, baristas can improve their lives on and off the job. This strategy only works however, if the company incurs significant economic, political, and social costs when it violates the right to organize by terminating workers for union activity.

Take action with us sisters and brothers. Together we will win:

1) Do not spend your hard earned money at Starbucks until the company respects the right of workers to organize and reinstates Daniel Gross and the rest of the IWW baristas. Let the company know you are taking a stand by participating in the email action: http://starbucksunion.org/node/1015

2) Obtain a resolution or pledge from your community group, labor union, or house of worship agreeing to stay way from Starbucks products until justice is done. Please send copies to [e-mail].

3) Hold a rally or leafleting action at Starbucks in support of the right to organize and in defense of the fired union baristas if you feel that's appropriate in your local community. Please check in with the baristas at the store before hand to involve them in the action.

4) If you are a student, join the Justice from Bean to Cup! campaign launching this Fall to ensure Starbucks doesn't operate on campuses without reinstating the IWW baristas, respecting the right to organize, and making a meaningful commitment to Fair Trade. Get involved by e-mailing [e-mail].

5) Make a financial contribution to the IWW Starbucks Workers Union to ensure a continued independent voice for employees at the world's largest coffee chain. Send checks made out to "IWW Starbucks Workers Union" or well-concealed cash to:

IWW Starbucks Workers Union
347 Maujer St. Apt. #C
Brooklyn, NY 11206

www.starbucksunion.org

[cgrindley]

1. Not Cool

I will not be shopping at the evil empire any time soon. Union busting tactics piss me off.

[Gman]

2. Has the AFL-CIO taken a position on this?

I know the IWW is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO. So I don't boycot unless the AFL-CIO says to boycot.

[Jim Sagle]

3. You might want to change your mind about that.

And if the AFL-CIO doesn't support the boycott, you might want to question why.

[Gman]

5. The answer to why is

that the IWW can't just call a boycott and expect everyone to jump on board without talking to anyone else about it.

The United Farm Workers are another group that are notorious for doing that.

[Omaha Steve]

10. I just remembered...

The UFW is no longer AFL-CIO.

http://www.ufw.org/

[Gman]

11. Haven't been for years

[Omaha Steve]

6. Unfair Labor Practices Settlement With Starbucks

This news just broke Friday night. Since it just happened, the AFL-CIO has not put it on the boycott list. If you are pro worker (union or not), then not shopping at Starbucks for now makes good sense. The company has already settled with the NLRB on previous illegal activities. Solidarity for the workers in the US and the world means not letting an anti employee company (Starbucks preaches it is pro family values etc.) use these kind of tactics. I'm willing to hand out flyer's at Starbucks locations. I have sent around a flyer's to all my locals (AFSCME LOCAL 251) bulletin boards to not shop there. AFL-CIO or not, this is the right thing to do for ALL workers here and abroad! Don't forget Starbucks refused to cancel it's janitorial contract with Cintas. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE!) took action in 2003. http://www.pww.org/article/view/3671/1/169


http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/712

Unfair Labor Practices Settlement With Starbucks
Documents

* NLRB Decision in Starbucks Election Petition
* Unfair Labor Practices Settlement With Starbucks

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union won a watershed victory over unfair labor practices in a conflict between the world's largest coffee chain and the baristas who work there. Faced with the prospect of having its widespread union-busting campaign exposed in a public hearing, Starbucks agreed to remedy all of the myriad violations committed against workers who have organized a union.

Some highlights of the National Labor Relations Board settlement with Starbucks include:

* The reinstatement of IWW members, Sarah Bender and Anthony Polanco, who had been discharged for their union activity in order to discourage other workers from making a free and fair choice about whether to join the union.

* The invalidation of Starbucks' national policy that prohibited the sharing of written union information and joining the union on company property.

* The invalidation of Starbucks' national no-pin policy. Workers had been banned from wearing IWW pins and had been sent home from work without pay for refusing to take them off.

* An agreement by Starbucks to end threats, bribes, and surveillance of union members.

* What would have been a relatively hefty backpay award against Starbucks was reduced because the IWW assisted its discharged members in obtaining other employment which mitigates damages under the National Labor Relations Act. Still, the company will pay out almost $2,000.

* And much more: click here for printable .pdf of the settlement.


http://www.starbucksunion.org/about

The Starbucks Workers Union is part of IU 660 - the retail worker's division of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The Starbucks Workers Union is driven by solidarity unionism, an innovative and powerful 21st century approach to improve our life at work.

[marmar]

4. As much as I love a tall soy latte...

Starbucks is going to lose me over this.

[Doctor_J]

7. This is the way the Nazis got their foothold in the 30's

Unions were a prime target for scapegoating.

[Jim Sagle]

8. K & R. If there's a Seattle's Best near you, buy their coffee.

It's better and cheaper. And some outlets sell organic fair trade coffee.

[Norrin Radd]

14. Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks.

http://www.seattlesbest.com/about/release.aspx?ID=1

[Omaha Steve]

16. We buy our fair trade, bird friendly, shade grown, online

These are the two companies we use.

http://www.organiccoffeecompany.com/shop1/home.php

http://cafecanopy.com/

I recommend either of them.

[zann725]

9. I never frequent Starbucks anymore...since many 'bad' experiences there.

And a letter to the CEO and many calls to Customer Relations...all in vain.

P.S. - CEO's office did NOT even send a "form" letter reply to my 4-page complaint letter celarly itemizing serious problems at at numerous Starbucks. A CEO that can NOT even issue a "form" apology, deserves to have his company do badly.

I'm NOT surprised about the Union problems. I know it's hard for many to avoid their long-ingrained Starbucks "habit", but we ALL need to boycott them NOW!

[LittleClarkie]

12. I'm conflicted

I've spoken to several employees who tell me what a wonderful place it is to work, how easy it is to work you way up the organization, how they have partner benefits unlike many companies, and are quite gung ho in paying fair market value for the coffee they buy. So as far as I know, they DO make a meaningful commitment to Fair Trade.

How much of this issue is NY-oriented, and how much of Starbucks attitude toward unions is coming from the national management vs the NY management?

Just trying to get more info here.

[Omaha Steve]

13. Starbucks uses Cintas, a very bad company for workers

Start here.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/3671/1/143/



Starbucks hit for Cintas contract

Author: Joelle Fishman


People's Weekly World Newspaper, 06/28/03 00:00


Across the country last week, upscale coffee company Starbucks felt the heat for contracting with union-buster Cintas Corp. to launder aprons, mats and linens. Cintas has been cited repeatedly for breaking the law by discriminating, dumping untreated wastewater, and violating labor law.

The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE!), which is organizing at all 300 Cintas plants, rallied outside Starbucks in many cities calling on the company to stop doing business with Cintas until they sign a union contract with the workers. Starbucks has long claimed to be a socially responsible business. Their mission statement says they “embrace diversity … buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products … and treat each other with dignity and respect.”

Hundreds of delegates to the New Jersey State AFL-CIO legislative conference rallied at Starbucks’ boardwalk stores in Atlantic City. In New Haven, Conn., the unions at Yale were among labor and community supporters to join with Cintas workers across the street from the campus Starbucks, as passing cars honked in solidarity. One week earlier, the Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution calling on Starbucks to end their contract with Cintas until the workers are treated fairly.

Cintas is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violating federal health and safety standards and endangering workers’ lives. Two Cintas workers have died because of illegal and unsafe working conditions. Cintas is also under investigation for over 100 violations of federal labor law, including illegally firing and retaliating against pro-union employees. In April, a national class action lawsuit was filed alleging that Cintas has failed to pay its delivery drivers overtime.

[USA_1]

15. I'm Doing My Part To Boycott Starbucks ...

you have my word on that.



UNIONS - YES!