What Do Starbucks and Wal-Mart Have in Common?

Both corporate giants have long track records of harassing their workers when it comes to joining unions. Harassment and intimidation are illegal under Federal law, and we won't stand for it. Tell Howard Schultz, Starbucks' billionaire owner, to respect the people who work for Starbucks.

"The regional manager literally told us that we weren't allowed to invite people to union meetings...that's the same kind of violation that you see at Wal-Mart," said Erik Forman, a former Starbucks employee fired for union organizing.

Starbucks, like retail giant Wal-Mart, has a well-established history of breaking labor laws. The company has spent millions settling five labor complaints in the past few years alone, and it has fought hard against the Employee Free Choice Act in an attempt to continue intimidating workers hoping to unionize. In 2005, we took on Wal-Mart for their assault on workers with Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Now we are exposing Starbucks' atrocious labor practices in our newest campaign, Stop Starbucks.

Watch the video to see Starbucks' blatant disregard for workers' rights.

SPILL THE BEANS ABOUT STARBUCKS:

Sign the memo insisting Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz allow workers to unionize. Help us reach 50,000 signatures before Congress votes on the Employee Free Choice Act. We will deliver the petition to Schultz, sending the clear message that corporations should support this vital legislation.

Send the video to your friends and family and post it on your Facebook page. Starbucks and Schultz's mistreatment of workers must be known.

Spread the word on Digg and make this campaign become more prominent than a Starbucks on every corner.

Tell us your Starbucks story. If you've ever worked at a Starbucks or even purchased a cup of coffee from them, we want to hear about it.

There are over 127,000 baristas in our country alone, many of whom are in dire need of better wages, health benefits, and hours. Shouldn't they have the right to be treated fairly? Sign the memo and tell Schultz to stop his mistreatment of workers.

Comments

[donotswallow]

Ah man, I really don't like Starbucks that much, but I guess I'm gonna have to support them now.

[Joe P]

Cost of deceptive media campaign to defeat the Employee Free choice Act.......­$200 million Dollars; Limiting your employees ability to fight CEO's corporate greed.....­PRICELESS!

[BlackJAC]

Dunkin' Donuts now sells T-shirts that say "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Starbucks.­"

[tdarrow]

As a Starbucks spokesperson, I'd like to offer our perspective.

The video is one-sided, and clearly part of an EFCA lobbying effort. The fact is that along with Whole Foods and Costco, Starbucks opposes EFCA in its current form. The companies are proposing alternatives to workplace rules that would more properly balance rights and responsibilities equally between labor and management.

We are proud to be regarded as one of the most progressive employers in the U.S. Our 170,000 global partners (employees) are truly the heart and soul of our company. We value and respect each one of them because our success would not be possible without the contributions they make on a daily basis. We continue to focus on preserving the open, direct relationship we have built with our partners and look forward to working under labor rules that allow that relationship to prosper.

Tara Darrow
Starbucks Coffee Company

[LeftRight]

Considering the minor little fact that employers already have almost all the power, I would say giving some of it to labor is pretty reasonable. ESPECIALLY since the complaints that your corporation has about the EFCA in its present form is the so-called "card check" where the people who wish to unionize will have the choice whether to have a secret ballot (with corporate interference) or a majority sign up (without corporate interference)

Treat your employees better, and they wouldn't want to join a union!!!!

[donotswallow]

aka: If I don't want to join a union, the union thugs are going to harass me until I do

[Montreaux1991]

Throw Whole Foods into the mix too. They are as anti-union as Wal-Mart.