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Pittsburgh joins the Global Day of Protest against Starbucks
by Worker Freedom
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006 at 10:38 AM
PITTSBURGH, PA - The Starbucks Workers Union in about 50 cities around the world--including Pittsburgh--has called for a global day of action November 24th to protest Starbucks' anti-union activity and poor employee compensation.
The Starbucks Union of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is calling for an end to corporate union-busting and demanding the reinstatement of five workers unlawfully fired by Starbucks for union activity. In March 2006, a National Labor Relations Board settlement was reached that reinstated two workers involved with the union movement and forced Starbucks to pay back wages and change discriminatory policies, including the workers' right to wear union buttons (which Starbucks had denied them). But the settlement seemed to do little to stop Starbucks? continued practice of intimidating workers involved in organizing.
Over the last two years Starbucks has consistently responded to union activity with harassment, intimidation, and illegal firings. Since December 2005, five workers in NYC were unlawfully fired for engaging in protected union activity:
* Joseph Agins fired from Starbucks, December 12th 2005
* Charles Fostrom fired from Starbucks, July 11th 2006
* Evan Winterscheidt fired from Starbucks, July 18th 2006
* Daniel Gross fired from Starbucks, August 5th 2006
* Isis Saenz fired from Starbucks, November 1st 2006
The Starbucks Workers Union is demanding an immediate reinstatement of all NYC
workers and an end to the corporate union-busting.
The Union is also protesting the need for higher wages, appropriate staffing, guaranteed hours, and safer working conditions. "Don't be fooled by Starbucks' so-called progressive, feel-good image," said Kevin Farkas, an IWW organizer in Pittsburgh. "Starbucks is one of the most profitable and competitive global companies in history, with about $8 billion in net earnings in 2006. Yet Starbucks 'partners' have starting wages around $7/hr, far below a livable standard for any worker. Clearly, Starbucks chooses to make such huge profits off the backs of its under-compensated, part-time workforce. That's putting profits before people, something that most working folks find disgusting."
Farkas went on to say that after six months on the job, typical raises amount to pennies, even as low as 11 cents in some documented cases. Despite Starbucks' claim of 'generous' healthcare, 401(k) retirement, and company stock options for employees, the reality is that wages and hours are so low that many employees can't afford such offerings after paying their rent, utility bills, car insurance and other basic bills each month. Starbucks also uses a part-time workforce; there are no full-time workers and no guaranteed hours per week, leaving many Starbucks 'partners' little choice but to partner up with a 2nd or 3rd job just to make ends meet.
On November 24th, the Pittsburgh Starbucks Workers Union will be holding a protest against Starbucks' anti-union, anti-worker practices. An event is scheduled at the Starbucks Coffee store in Squirrel Hill. All friends of labor are invited to join the Union and demand justice for Starbucks workers in Pittsburgh and around the world.
***Press Packets Available***
Contact the Pittsburgh IWW.
what about???????????
by soy latte
Monday, Nov. 20, 2006 at 8:34 PM
yinz should also protest:
crazy mocha
61c
the beehive
the quiet storm
tazza d'oro
the union project cafe
coffee tree roasters
jitters
kiva han
dunkin donuts
co-gos
caribou
square cafe
katerbean
the vault
la prima
beleza
NONE OF THEM ARE UNION EITHER!!!!!
in fact, most of them don't even give benefits.
I can't think of anything witty--oh, wait I'm not witty.
by C.
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006 at 11:59 AM
Why you can't protest the quiet storm?...its HIP!
An interesting note on the subject though, while buying materials for work a few years ago, I got gas and coffee at the Get Go in the Waterfront.
Two of the workers there were discussing something about a union. When I asked, they said many of the workers there were union, but I forget how many.
If it is still true, what about a "Way to Get GO" rally to show support? Or a "support the Get Go workers 'buy-in'"
Organize Them All!
by Less Talk, More Action
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006 at 5:34 PM
Yep, just shows you the need for more organizing--all day, every day. I think I heard some IWW member say that their union is probably the only union interested in unionizing these small places. Good for them, and the workers in these little places. Why shouldn't they have a union just because some big union doesn't think they're cost effective to organize?
Re: Get Go
by Dr. Anarchist
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 at 4:36 AM
Get Go is Giant Eagle, so I would guess Get Go is in their union.
Different Heading
by storm tracker
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 at 11:43 AM
People tend to overlook the exploitation of Quiet Storm employees, as it's role in the gentrification of Garfield is so much more blatant. The only community they serve is trucked in. I'm sure that the no protein, atrophied brain set gives them a pass because they have vegan enchiladas or some crap.
The developers and the gatekeepers (the BGC in this case) consider having a hip, white flagship such a priority that they charge less rent to the Quiet Storm than they charge for one of their one bedroom apartments.
Quiet Storm
by A. Wob
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 at 1:46 PM
Yeah, there have been problems at the Quiet Storm before. I remember when the then-manager wanted to deduct the cost of some counterfeit bills that employees were supposed to notice in the dark from their paychecks. Two of us had a talk with employees and then the manager to let him know there would be legal and other probs. if the deductions occurred. But yes, it is also a bastion of gentrification. Most of those folks don't seem to get it.
the merton center gentrifies
by soy latte
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 at 12:49 AM
Land of the Orange Cat
the illuminati pact between the merton center, bgc, children's hospital, bob oconnor and the quiet storm is driving the poor people of garfield into, well, garfield. they are trying to turn garfield into beverly hills, but brenda and donna haven't quite found their way past the crack heads and hookers chillin at aiken and penn. I think that Brenda wanted to get some veg friendly food at the QS, but broke her high heel on the the unkept sidewalk near the National City. She ended up calling it a day and getting food from the overly wealthy vietnamese people at Pho Minh who are trying to force out the hippies and poor people with their spicy foods. Mean while, Steve Sanders was trying to score some coke from the thugs at Aiken and Kincaid, but they thought that he was an under cover and claimed that they were waiting at the bus stop, though the bus doesn't even drove on the street. Steve decided to find some hippie hoochies at the QS, but got side tracted by a guy that talked him into going to see a two piece "band" from Japan that played a toaster and a car jack. The little bearded man then implemented his plan becomming the King of Garfield. His only way to do so was by playing loud noise aka Artworks that would be a reverse gentrification process. the 90210 types would flee the corridor and the poor people that aren't in a drug and alcohol induced stupor would flee the neighborhood for the nearest neighborhood with a good pizza joint. The new King of Garfield would soon be overthrown by a coup consisting of crackheads armed with copper pipes stolen from the houses in their own neighborhood. Within a week, the crackheads were the only people left in the land of the Orange Cat aka Garfield, except for the few hippies stoned out of their minds and buzzed on organic coffee at the Quiet Storm. The crackheads came into the QS and demanded that the hippies leave, but the hippies just sat back and listened to Miles Davis while talking philosophy and culture. The crackheads grabbed a shopping cart stolen from the Dollar Store and filled it up with everything made of metal. "Try to drink coffee without pipes, hippies." The hippies just sat back and laughed, but the crackheads headed to the scrap yard to made $15 for their three hours of hard work. On the way back from the scrap yard, the hippies found that crack was on sale - being black friday and all. Instead of being sensible crackheads, they blew all $15 on enough blow to get them high for the next 24 hours straight. They went home to sleep off their high, but they were freezing because they scrapped the pipes from their basement. they decided to light the phone book on fire to keep warm. soon enough, the building was on fire and they were all burnt very badly. the hippies, artists and university types had no idea that they were then the reigning leaders of the neighborhood because they stayed in their bubble. A group of twelve leftist extremists guilt ridden of their privilege decided to hold a protest outside of the Quiet Storm in solidarity with employees who were not aware of how badly they had it. They were told that they could do so much better, with a job at a big corporation that is unionized, like US Air or General Motors. Job security wouldn't be there, but the benefits and wages would. "Take the money and run," yelled one IWW member as he munched on his $3 organic candybar. The employees told the IWW members to go home and watch football re-runs and to tell coach Cowher how to do his job and to leave them alone. Some of the union members decided that though this wasn't the point that they intended, they realized that NFL players are already unionized and they had a new marketing campaign. NFL players make a minimum of 580,000 per year. McDonalds employees make a minimum of 5.80 per hour. what is the corrilation? McDs employees aren't union and they need to step it up if they want to be making half a million per year. Think of how many McNuggets you could eat at that price? Think of how many Hummers you could fill with McNuggets with that money?
Soy Latte
by Evan
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Um...I think you better lay off the crack.
Soy Latte
by Concerned...
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 at 3:21 PM
Ah...I think you better stay off the crank, outta the crick, and get into the cronk, too.
Crack, Cracked, Kraken
by C.
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 at 4:03 PM
Soy, don't worry alatte, I thought it was funny.
too many espresso shots
by soy latte
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 at 7:22 PM
yo C, you're my kinda cracker. let's get crunk on coffee.
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