Under Mounting Pressure, Starbucks Settles Yet Another Labor Dispute

Here comes my coffee spit take for the day. Starbucks just settled its sixth labor dispute in the past three years! According to the settlement, Starbucks must now allow Minneapolis-area workers to discuss unions and post union materials in break areas, and the company can no longer kick union sympathizers out of its stores.

This is a huge win for the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, an organization of over 300 current and former Starbucks employees -- the David to Starbucks' caffeinated, union-busting Goliath. Though really, it's a big win for all Starbucks employees, since unionization would enable workers to negotiate set hours, fairer wages and better benefits for everyone.

Angel Gardner, a Twin Cities barista and member of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, said, "This settlement proves that Starbucks executives are not above the law and cannot block hard working baristas from making positive change. How can Starbucks claim that it maintains a positive work environment when one labor case after another exposes its lack of respect for employees?"

As I've written previously, it's deceptive for Starbucks to pretend to offer workers adequate wages and benefits. The reality is Starbucks routinely prevents employees from working enough hours to qualify for the company's health insurance, and the average barista earns $7.75 an hour. Then, when workers attempt to remedy this problem by forming a union, Starbucks violates labor laws by firing or intimidating them, going so far as to actively oppose the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Minneapolis settlement is also a win for the Stop Starbucks campaign, which the Seattle Times and other recent press coverage have credited with pressuring Starbucks into supporting workers' rights. Join 15,000 who have signed the petition insisting Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz allow workers to unionize. Then, enter the Stop Starbucks contest and get creative as you raise awareness about Starbucks' anti-labor practices.

Comments

[RepubforO]

I'm all for fair wages, but seriously....a union? Simply, businesses are there to make money for their shareholders. Benefits are just that, benefits. If you wanted employer funded healthcare, don't work a menial job that pays minmum wage.

In 2005 Starbucks spent more on healthcare costs than raw materials and realized that model wasn't sustainable. I realize they are a large profitable company, but they can't remain on that path if they have to provide healthcare for all their workers...­.especiall­y in a recession where their profits are what they were. That is unless Starbucks drinkers want to pay even more for their lattes.

[confidance government]

Starbucks is hardly a long term career option.

[LeftRight]

It should be able to be one....

Speaking of that, I worked in a grocery store when I was in high school. While there was only one person bagging groceries who wasn't in high school (she was a retiree) the rest of the store was available for people to make a career out of.... I know it's not the same as a Starbucks, but still....

[confidance government]

I'm just saying I would be very dissapointed in myself if that was the only options I had left myself.

I worked 4 years in a restaurant in High School washing dishes and bussing tables (25+ hours per week while in school); that experience more than anything else motivated me to move on to better options. Especially seeing the cooks and waitresses that were in their 40's with no better options.

Kids, do yourself a favor, get qualified for better career paths than barista.

[rf dude]

Imagine the irony of some future picket line at Starbucks

with workers carrying the usual signs, chanting the usual slogans

and drinking coffee from - where???
--

[LeftRight]

My guess would be either their homes or from someplace like 7-11, cause if they are picketing they will hardly be rolling in the dough!

[EndTheEcho]

There a no 7-11's in Minneapolis. Got bought out in the 80s by SuperAmerica.

[Mark Bunster]

one imagines from the number of competing cafes that sprout up around Starbucks.