Starbucks staff tries to unionize in Quebec City

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/07/14/quebec-city-starbucks-unionize.html

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 | 2:18 PM ET

Employees at a Starbucks franchise in Quebec City filed a request to unionize with Quebec's labour relations board on Monday.


The workers at a Starbucks in Quebec City have aligned themselves with the Industrial Workers of the World, a large international union that has butted heads with Starbucks in the past. (CBC)


If successful, they would become the first workers employed by the coffee chain to unionize in the province.

Employee Simon Gosselin said the move was sparked when Starbucks made "unfair" changes to working conditions. He said the staff, comprised of mostly student workers, was being forced to work at least 24 hours a week or be fired.

“I was working between 12 and 16 hours, most of the employees were doing it as well, and none of us will be able to do that anymore,” said Gosselin.

The workers have aligned themselves with the Industrial Workers of the World, a large international union that has butted heads with Starbucks in the past.

[imdjh]

1. This should pose no problem. Starbucks is proud of their "fair trade" coffee and greenerie

I joke of course.

They'll complain that if they have to pay union scale, they'll have to raise the price of a latte (I have never actually had one of those.) to five bucks.

[elleng]

2. IWW was/is the Wobblies, eh, Steve?

.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Yep

Starbucks has settled 6 times over the last 2 years over labor charges in the US. They had to reinstate an employee in Mn. We are just waiting on the NYC decision now.

[Lost-in-FL]

3. And they will do like Walmart did.

Pack their bags and leave Quebec.

Besides, Tim Hortons is very good. I don't think Starbucks will be missed there.

[Wednesdays]

4. K&R

:kick: