Starbucks-Haters Of The World Unite!

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=19389336

Friday, July 13, 2007
Starbucks-Haters Of The World Unite!

The National Labor Relations Board began a trial Monday investigating employee complaints against everyone’s favorite neighborhood retailer, Starbucks. The coffee super-giant is accused of engaging in anti-union discrimination, including firing pro-union employees, intimidating union activists at four Manhattan locations, banning workers from wearing union pins and giving unfair negative performance reviews. “In my view it is clear that Starbucks is a repeat offender, with a profound lack of respect for workers’ rights. This is not a case of a few bad apples,” a Starbucks Union organizer and former employee Daniel Gross said at the trial. Starbucks? Accused of unwholesome labor practices? But my barista always looks so smiley!



According to Gross, the trial was adjourned Wednesday and will now resume Aug. 6. Starbucks evidently needed more time to produce boxes of documents and the labor board wanted more time to prepare. “We don’t think a 25 billion company that gets sued all the time, with offices in 40 countries, should have that much trouble finding documents,” Gross complained.

The company, meanwhile, is denying all charges. Valerie O’Neil, a Starbucks spokeswoman, said in a statement that the company “continues to believe the allegations…are baseless and will defend itself vigorously against them.” If Starbucks is found guilty, it would be required to reinstate fired employees and make a public statement saying that it will not engage in anti-union activities. Quite the punishment, right? Of course, this is not the first time that Starbucks has faced such accusations. In 2006, the company was forced to re-hire two workers and pay $2,000 in damages—or, by our calculations, approximately 389 Venti Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccinos—after a similar trial by the labor relations board.

Photo courtesy of Joe in DC on Flickr

Posted by Jill Colvin at 9:37 AM

[Beaverhausen]

1. If I'm not mistaken, Starbucks treats their employees pretty fairly

I think, for instance, part timers get health insurance. Maybe they don't want to unionize.

Trader Joes is an example of a progressive company that is also non-union but treats it's employees very well. Their attrition rate is very low.

[LittleClarkie]

2. They have partner benefits as well

All the peeps at my Starbucks seem pretty happy and speak highly of being able to work their way up if they want to.

Meanwhile, I ain't givin' up my Venti Sumatra for nobody.

[sentelle]

39. If you think you can tell one starbucks blend from another

you are fooling yourself.

anything beyond a full city roast is virtually devoid of any of the environmental differences between areas, replaced with the differences of roast profiles.

The fact that you are talking about a 'sumatra' bean is telling... is that sort of like a 'French' wine without a region or variety. (personally I am quite partial to Classic Mandheling's from Sumatra). a good Mandheling is hard to find in any quantity.

becides, if the bean has been roasted more than 2 weeks from brew time, its freshness is lost. same with more than 2 hours with ground coffee.

and yes, Starbucks is a scourge.

[LittleClarkie]

40. Hey, I don't have the names right in front of me, and they usually abreviate that one on the sign

Eh, dissect if you like.

But I've participated in taste tests with Starbuck employees to help them with their studies and such, and I know what I like. I prefer Indonesian and African blends over South American, that much I know.

[tammywammy]

3. I was treated very fairly when I worked there

I got my hours and so did the rest of the employees. :shrug:

We never thought about unionizing at the stores I worked at.

[DainBramaged]

7. Of course not, Unions are for "Real" heavy labor, aren't they?

:sarcasm:

[tammywammy]

14. No, nor did I imply that

I was just stating that in my 3 years with the company none of the people I worked with talked about unionizing...that it never came up.

[Throwing Stones]

5. The conventional wisdom seems to agree that Starbucks treats employees fairly

I wonder if that's correct. I don't actually know any current or former employees, but I have heard that the pay and benefits are certainly better than Mc's and Wally's. On the other hand, as someone in a city with outrageous housing costs (Boston), I've often wondered how in the hell a full-time Starbies employee could pay rent and other living expenses on a sub-35k per year salary. On a more pragmatic note, how much more would I have to pay for a latte if Starbucks met the union organizers' demands? Are the top execs at Starbucks getting excessive pay packages? Are the shareholders getting too much return (how much is too much for those one step removed from management?) If Starbucks does indeed practice fair trade with coffee growers, what am I willing to spend for a coffee, and will that amount, multiplied by their millions of customers, give management, shareholders and employees all their fair share?

[DainBramaged]

10. Sucbucks charges excessive prices for their mud

You can't be serious to think the price of coffee is reasonable?

[Throwing Stones]

23. one of about six or seven times I visit, I do indeed get served mud

But since I only visit a couple of times a month at most, I let the mud, er, slide. What is a reasonable price for a cup of coffee, and in whose pocket do excessive prices end up? I don't have an answer for either of those questions.

[smtpgirl]

28. If you fall in the trap of buying Starbucks

On a personal note, that coffee SUCKS, why would I pay almost $5 for a cup of coffee???

My home brew definitely tastes better, not bitter.

[DainBramaged]

13. For evey one Trader Joe's their are thousands that don't

Jesus, take off the rose-colored glasses. Ask a supermarket employee where they'd be if not for the Unions thanks to the union-busting tactics of Wal-Mart.

[Beaverhausen]

17. I'm not talking about other grocery stores. Jeez chill will ya?

I believe there are actually some employers who treat their employees fairly without needing the intervention of unions.

I am not anti-union whatsoever.

You need to calm down.

[DainBramaged]

22. I don't need to calm down at all, YOU need to be informed

The corporations are trying every day to bust out the Unions and LOWER EVERYONE's standard of living.

Maybe someday when you are a greeter at Wal-Mart, you'll wonder what all those empty buildings once were.

[DainBramaged]

4. Neither I nor my beautiful Daughter patronize Suckbucks

And SHE turned me onto their anti-Union tactics when she worked there for ONE week a couple of years ago. She just ASKED if she could "join" the Union and was "written up" for causing a disturbance.

She gave the manager a nice one finger salute on her way out the door. And I called him a child molesting douche bag in front of a packed store. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :spray: :spray:


He no longer works there either. :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Bake]

6. I ain't giving up my French Roast!

Although I will try a Komodo Dragon from time to time ...

Unions are not ALWAYS necessary. When an employer treats its employees fairly and well (rarely) a union is not called for.

Bake

[DainBramaged]

8. Bullshit Unions are ALWAYS necessary

that's why the middle class is screwed blue by those fucking Reich-Wingers. And al of our manufacturing base is now in China.

[Bake]

15. Back up your argument.

If -- IF -- an employer willingly provides everything a union would negotiate for, e.g., health insurance, adequate wages, workplace safety, right to air grievances (to name but a few), why would a union be necessary?

The THREAT of organizing in that case might be enough to keep the employer in line.

And make no mistake, I'm not saying that scenario actually happens in reality. But I'd also point out that unions don't always bagain from a position of strength in a global economy where the employer can simply outsource everything to frickin' CHINA. What I AM suggesting is that PERHAPS there is, rarely, a responsible corporation.

Bake

[DainBramaged]

21. Easy

Where are your clothes, electronics, small appliances, kitchen ware, rubber goods, cloth items, metal items, garden implements, tools, electric tools, auto parts, plumbing fixtures, all things once manufactured by UNION members, want me to go on, made, and WHY do we have BILLIONS of dollars of trade surplus every month with China?

Oh year, America is a manufacturing black hole, stomped by greedy corporations. And NO Unions to protect the now displaced workers.



Get real.

[Bake]

25. Of course unions are necessary to protect manufacturing jobs!

And the examples you cite illustrate that all too well. But that's not responsive to my post, with a hypothetical responsible employer. I strongly support unions. And they are necessary in 99.9% of workplaces.

Bake

[DainBramaged]

26. Who would protect the hotel workers?

Who would protect the farm workers?

Who would protect the service workers?

Who would protect the Auto workers?

Who would protect the truckers?

Who would protect the pilots?

Who would protect the miners?

Who would protect the meat packers?

Remember what happened to the Air traffic controllers Union? Poof by Raygun. THAT one moment started the decline of Unions.

Is that responsive enough to your post?

:sarcasm:

[Bake]

27. Those aren't hypotheticals. Those are real, and I'm not arguing with you.

You said unions are ALWAYS necessary. I posed a hypothetical scenario to which you didn't respond. Let's make it more concrete. Would a union get more for Starbucks employees than the employer is already willing to give them?

If so, let the employees vote to organize.

Bake

[pansypoo53219]

19. french roast

or fucking burnt. can't stand starbucks. now if only there were Torke shops.....

[Bake]

20. No accounting for taste.

I love Starbucks. With a shot of espresso. You don't. That's fine with me. But I can't stomach that weak-ass sh*t from the grocery store.

Bake

[Bonobo]

9. Their coffee tastes burnt. Blech.

[Bake]

16. And Maxwell House tastes like colored water.

And don't even get me started on Folgers.

Bake

[smtpgirl]

30. Add more coffee to your brew, would taste better than

Starbux, burnt is not where it's at.

Starbucks coffee is BURNT.

Diner coffee has a better flavor

[Bake]

33. Tried it. It doesn't work.

I just like Starbucks. If you don't, fine. And I can't afford that stuff that's made from the feces of some exotic cat that eats the coffee beans and then craps 'em out.

Bake

[Omaha Steve]

11. As a percentage Starbucks has fewer employees with health care

NLRB charges earlier this year settled. Sexual harassment. More....

http://www.starbucksunion.org/

I'm staying out by choice.

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Starbucks-Haters: go to this site to find a coffee house

that is NOT part of a corporate chain. Bookstores and movie houses too.

www.delocator.net

[DainBramaged]

18. Of course, put the Unions down. Why not make your own damn coffee

instead of spending $5+ on a cup of mud and steamed milk.

[smtpgirl]

32. Isn't your coffee better anyway?????

[smtpgirl]

31. WOW, the delocator has Austin's Cafe in Poolesville, MD

Cafes found within 5 miles of 20837
Austin's Cafe
Cross Street: Fisher Ave. & Elgin Rd.
Address: 19942 Fisher Ave
Poolesville, MD 20837
Phone: [phone]
Distance: 0 miles
Posted by Anonymous
Click here for map directions!


These are good too:

Mayorga
Cross Street: King Farm
Address: 801 Pleasant Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
Distance: 0 miles
Posted by Anonymous
Comments: great coffee.
Click here for map directions!



Mayorga Coffee Roasters
Cross Street: King Farm?
Address: 801 Pleasant Dr # 100
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: [phone]
Distance: 0 miles
Posted by Eric
Comments: It's a chain, but a small one (5 or 6 stores?), and about the only non-Starbucks place near Gaithersburg.
Click here for map directions!



Carmen's
Cross Street: Azalea
Address: 1115 Nelson St.
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: [phone]
Distance: 0 miles
Posted by Justin Adams
Comments: Its local, its friendly, it also a frozen custard, Italian Ice shop but there is a good selection of coffee and snacks there too.
Click here for map directions!

[rucky]

36. I just added my local bookstore!

Great site

:thumbsup:

[DainBramaged]

24. Why is it when Omaha Steve or I post Pro Union threads, the Union haters come out to play.

I always thought DU was a haven for Unions. In my six years here, I have found otherwise. Having worked in the Grocery, Teamsters, UAW for years before being physically unable to work heavy industry, I just don't understand the ignorance here.:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[smtpgirl]

29. Mayorga Coffee Roasters, Caribou Coffee, the Coffee

Beanery are MUCH better.

STARBUX SUX

You guys fell into the starbucks coffee trap.

I'll spend my $5 on something else

[rucky]

34. ...

www.sweetmarias.com

[Colobo]

35. Starbucks- Bad, water-like coffee. If you want real coffee, get Cuban or Puerto Rican coffee.

[stimbox]

37. K&R

:donut:

Thanks Omaha Steve and DainBramaged for the pro labor posts!

[DainBramaged]

38. Starfucks, coffee for lemmings

Reich-wing lemmings, not for Progressives or quasi-liberals.

Bump up for Unions in Starbucks.