Starbucks Fires Outspoken Barista For Union Activity In Grand Rapids, MI (not so blue after all)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=9082

by Grand Rapids Starbucks Union (IWW) - Starbucks Workers Union Friday, Jun 6 2008, 8:34pm
[e-mail] address: PO Box 6629 Grand Rapids MI 49506 phone: [phone]
north america / mexico / workplace struggles / other libertarian press

Grand Rapids firing comes in the midst of Unfair Labor Practice charges being investigated by the NLRB against Starbucks.

Grand Rapids, MI (06/06/2008)- Starbucks terminated a barista active in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union today as part of its ongoing effort to combat a growing movement of employees pushing for a living wage and secure work hours. The barista, Cole Dorsey, was fired after two years of service while he was coordinating a union recruitment drive at Starbucks stores in Grand Rapids. Starbucks' pretext for the illegal anti-union firing was that Dorsey was guilty of some months-old attendance infractions.

"Today I joined the growing number of baristas that Starbucks has fired in its relentless union-busting campaign," said Cole Dorsey. "Starbucks' disrespect for the right to join a union is appalling and absolutely will not stop our efforts to have a voice at work."

The firing comes as a National Labor Relations Board judge is set to rule after a lengthy trial on the retaliatory terminations of three New York City baristas. Even before the firing, the NLRB was investigating whether Starbucks violated a settlement agreement entered into in Grand Rapids over anti-union discrimination. In 2006, Starbucks was forced to re hire two union baristas who had been unlawfully fired for union activity. This latest firing in Grand Rapids signals that reinstalled CEO Howard Schultz will not modify the company's practice of terminating outspoken union baristas to intimidate workers from joining up.

This firing in Grand Rapids is the same tactic Starbucks employed against a union member in Sevilla, Spain. On April 24, Monica was fired from a Starbucks in Sevilla for her activity on behalf of the Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT).

In response the CNT in Sevilla, along with the Starbucks Union in Grand Rapids, have announced a Global Day of Action set for July 5. Workers, students, and concerned citizens around the world will be confronting the global coffee giant on that day demanding an end to Starbucks union-busting policies.

DEMAND STARBUCKS REINSTATE COLE DORSEY IN GRAND RAPIDS!

DEMAND STARBUCKS STOP UNION-BUSTING!
PARTICIPATE IN THE JULY 5TH GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION!

Contact Grand Rapids Management:
Tom Belanger District Manager - 616-826-9386
Nate Bailey Store Manager - 616-633-7780

http://grsbuxunion.blogspot.com

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Starbucks Is Run By Ruthless Ex-PepsiCo Execs

Totally fucked my friend's family business over through braking a contract and stealing employees. My friend's business won in court, but it was brutal fighting with Starbucks' overstocked legal department.

[wain]

2. Isn't the driving purpose of unionization to provide a better work existence?

With all the bad guy shops out there, why go after Starbucks? Don't they already provide pay above the market rate and benefits to part-time workers? When you get your Starbucks, do the employees seem unhappy and disgruntled? What is it that unions can give to Starbucks employees? At the same time i would argue to let the employees vote and decide. However, my point is aren't there more deserving targets out there where the union could clearly add value?

[Omaha Steve]

3. Read this about Starbucks smoke and mirrors

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=367&topic_id=11464

This answers your questions. Perhaps you will see Starbucks in a new (ugly) light.

[Omaha Steve]

4. I forgot to mention

Do you believe everything Republicans say about why THEY are the best to run America? You have to look behind the curtain.

[wain]

5. I appreciate your measured response Omaha Steve

and for your additional input.

No political propaganda provides the basis of any of my thinking. While the world is bigger than my small sphere, my observation of the local Starbucks I frequent is a rainbow of employees.

Thanks again for your insight and courtesy.

[Omaha Steve]

6. Honest open exchange of ideas

That is the DU in theory anyway. Your welcome.