Global Day of Action Against Starbucks July 5th

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20080531163435183

Global Day of Action Against Starbucks
Saturday, May 31 2008 @ 04:34 PM CDT
Contributed by: Admin

Fire Your BossGrand Rapids Starbucks Union and Sevilla, Spain CNT have announced a Global Day of Action against Starbucks July 5th.

Grand Rapids Starbucks Union and Spanish CNT Announce a Global Day of Action!

Grand Rapids Starbucks Union and Sevilla, Spain CNT have announced a Global Day of Action against Starbucks July 5th

* Day to protest recent firing of CNT member in Spain and continuing anti-union discrimination in Grand Rapids

* The Union of Commerical 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

[e-mail]

616-881-5263

PO Box 6629

Grand Rapids, MI 49516

[sellitman]

1. Starbucks is a "Blue" Company and ...

Is always near the top of the heap when they poll the best places to work in the US. Sometimes Unions are their own worst enemy. They are picking on the wrong company IMHO.

[Omaha Steve]

2. So age, wage, sex, labor discrimination are ok if your BLUE?

This behavior from Starbucks isn't new. Look around and some stories go back 15-20 years.

Starbucks settles discrimination suit: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/319668_starbuckseeoc14.html

Woman, 53, files age discrimination suit against Starbucks: http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2007/11/woman-53-files.html

More Employees File Suit Against Starbucks Over Sexual Harassment, Discrimination in the Workplace: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1998_July_1/ai_50137290

Faced With IWW Pressure, Starbucks Releases Sub-Par Health Care Number: http://www.iww.org/en/node/1900
("The Starbucks socially responsible image is all smoke and mirrors + Starbucks' 42% figure includes management officials)


Starbucks Settles Charges with NLRB over Anti-Union Activities in Grand Rapids: http://www.iww.org/en/node/3687


NLRB rules in favor of Starbucks union: http://www.laborradio.org/node/391


Union Scores Big Victory Against Starbucks at Labor Board: http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/713


Starbucks refuses to drop it's contract with Cintas.


Worker Killed at Starbucks' Uniform Supplier Cintas: http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1216


Tell Starbucks Dump Your Dirty Laundry: http://www.umgeo.org/2003/08/30/tell-starbucks-dump-your-dirty-laundry/


Day of action in support of Cintas workers: http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/3340/1/143/
(Cintas, the nation’s largest manufacturer of uniforms, with $234 million in profits last year, has been cited 25 times by the National Labor Relations Board for sexual and racial discrimination, refusing to pay overtime, surveillance and interrogation of employees and illegally firing union supporters. )

(New York isn’t the only place where Cintas has violated labor law. On March 19, charges were brought against Cintas in California on behalf of 3,500 employees who were deliberately misclassified as exempt from overtime. Some were even forced to work up-to 70 hours a week. The lawsuits could cost Cintas $75 to $100 million for unpaid overtime. )

(An additional 40 lawsuits have been filed against Cintas for racial, sexual, age and disability discrimination. And the company has been cited and fined eight times for failing to pay the federal minimum wage.)

Starbucks says in its mission statement that it “strives to buy, sell, and use environmentally friendly products” and “instill environmental responsibility.” Katie Unger, of UNITE, said, “Starbucks needs to put its money where its mouth is. Cintas is responsible for dumping untreated wastewater into rivers.” This “is an environmental and worker problem,” she said.


There are plenty of links out there on news and government sites too. I won't buy shares in the Blue Fund because it has Starbucks in it's portfolio: http://www.bluefund.com/ http://www.bluefund.com/why-blue/blue-companies/index_html?searchterm=starbucks&b_start:int=60

Edit. I almost forgot. Starbucks has been dragging it's feet on fair trade coffee. IF they would take a more pro position, many workers in 3rd world countries would benefit!


OS

[sellitman]

3. Wow. I stand corrected.

Thanks for the education spanking.

I hope they come around!

[Omaha Steve]

4. Your welcome

It is always pleasing to help somebody look behind the facade.