LATEST ON IWW-STARBUCKS TRIAL AND BARISTA SIMONE GORDON'S FIGHT

[Omaha Steve]

------------LATEST ON IWW-STARBUCKS TRIAL AND BARISTA SIMONE GORDON'S FIGHT
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION------------

August 13, 2007

Dear Starbucks Union Activists,

With your continuing support, union baristas are standing up for a living wage,
secure work hours, and a respectful work environment through the hot summer
months. We are no longer silenced by the phony social responsibility of the
world's largest coffee chain.

The NLRB trial against Starbucks over its illegal union-busting campaign is in
full swing in New York City. While Starbucks disparaged and red-baited the IWW
in its opening statement, the company's lawyers did admit that our campaign
against union-busting has successfully imposed real costs on the chain.

The coffee giant is not happy about having to go to trial either. Starbucks
whined about having to turn over some 100,000 documents in the proceedings and
having to pay its high-priced lawyers. What management really hates is having
the light of day shined upon their ugly effort to crush workers who commit the
high crime of supporting a labor union. Testimony continues throughout the
week. New York SWU activists should drop by 120 W. 45th St. 14th Fl. The trial
usually goes from 9:30am-5:00pm but Tuesday August 14th we're finishing at 3pm.

In case you missed them, check out a couple of recent stories on the trial:

Corporate Social Responsibility on Trial:
<http://www.counterpunch.org/gross08042007.html>

A Storied Union Takes on Starbucks:
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2007/db20070801_050494.htm>

Finally, a thanks to all of you that pitched in on the e-mail action for Simone
Gordon, the Starbucks barista who was discriminated against on the basis of
race. You'll be happy to learn that since Simone started fighting back with the
Starbucks Workers Union, the company has reinstated her work hours which had
been drastically reduced and the abusive manager is no longer at the store.
These are positive steps but the company still has not made Simone whole for her
losses and thus the legal and grassroots efforts in her case continue.

As always, small contributions go a long way to sustain this first-ever
organizing drive for Starbucks baristas in the United States- a campaign that
seeks to fight not only for Starbucks employees but to challenge the neoliberal
juggernaut harming communities around the globe. You can contribute online at
<http://starbucksunion.org/contribute>.

Thank you for your time and your vision.

In Solidarity,

SWU

P.S. Supporters in the United Kingdom are putting on a National Day of Action
for Starbucks Workers on August 18th! More information at
<http://StarbucksUnion.org>.