NationStates Jolt Archive

I found this news article on Infoshop. A union affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World forced Starbucks to settle a legal dispute over the company's overtly anti-union practices.

IWW Defeats Starbucks in Michigan Legal Fight

Wednesday, October 03 2007 @ 01:20 AM PDT
Contributed by: WorkerFreedom

Starbucks has backed down from a legal fight against the IWW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The world's largest coffee chain chose to settle charges instead of having its illegal anti-union operation exposed in a trial like the one currently taking place in New York City.

Grand Rapids SWU Press Conference on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAgRGdU4prQ

Starbucks Settles Charges with NLRB over Anti-Union Activities in Grand Rapids [Media Mouse]

On Friday, the Starbucks Workers Union--a union affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and formed in response to Starbucks' mistreatment of its baristas--held a press conference outside of Starbucks' Wealthy Street store in East Grand Rapids to respond to charges filed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the company. The charges included allegations that store employees were denied access to a store bulletin board that was previously open after an employee posted union materials, that a store manager threatened employees with "discharge and unspecified reprisals" if they engaged in union activities, and that they failed to change employee handbooks to indicate that employees could wear union buttons and have union literature based on a 2006 settlement in New York City.

The Union originally expected to know whether or not Starbucks would settle the charges or fight them before the 3:00pm press conference. However, Starbucks got word of the planned press conference and delayed its announcement until 4:00pm. Starbucks chose to settle the charges and will be required to post a notice in all of its "District 7" stores--including Michigan and portions of Ohio--admitting to wrongdoing.

Starbucks is currently involved in a legal fight with the NLRB in New York City where it is facing 30 charges of unfair labor practices. The Grand Rapids branch of the Starbucks Workers Union announced its formation and intent to file charges with the NLRB this year on the third anniversary of the founding of the national union.

http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1888

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good stuff, i hope the have to pay up a load too.

Hurrah for the Wobblies!

(One Big Union member number X360612, section 620)

It's always pleasant to see workers form unions, as in doing so they take personal ownership of corporatism and market economics. They've realized that they control the supply of a commodity, specifically labor, and to take full advantage of that they form a special type of corporation. The union, an entity that is to the worker that the corporation is to the capitalist. Very fascinating.

Not to mention, I also like how unions can aid in spawning civic responsibility, encouraging people to partake in our democratic institutions and all of that.

Unions have been getting a bad rap lately, and some of them deserve it (the NEA and UAW among others).

But as someone who calls Everett, WA his hometown, it makes me proud to see the Wobblies in action. [Google "Everett Massacre" for more information.]

Yeh, it's about time the IWW came back. The legacy of the Pinkertons is the emasculation of the Wobblies and their replacement among hobos and trainlines in the US by the... Aryan Brotherhood. Well done, the US Gov't.

Unions have been getting a bad rap lately, and some of them deserve it (the NEA and UAW among others).

But as someone who calls Everett, WA his hometown, it makes me proud to see the Wobblies in action. [Google "Everett Massacre" for more information.]

Wow dude. Your union roots run deep, then. I agree, it's great to see the Wobblies in action again.

Yeh, it's about time the IWW came back. The legacy of the Pinkertons is the emasculation of the Wobblies and their replacement among hobos and trainlines in the US by the... Aryan Brotherhood. Well done, the US Gov't.

Well done in deed. If you ask me, a return of a mass, militant IWW is long overdue in this country.

I dunno, the "One Big" anything concept is bothersome to me. Not that I'm shedding any tears for the Boss, mind you. As suggested by my signature, the absolute value of my libertarian-ness is greater than the absolute value of my left-ness, is all.

**grabs some popcorn, a nose-bleed seat in the bleachers, and watches the various Big Ones continue to duke it out**

I dunno, the "One Big" anything concept is bothersome to me. Not that I'm shedding any tears for the Boss, mind you. As suggested by my signature, the absolute value of my libertarian-ness is greater than the absolute value of my left-ness, is all.

**grabs some popcorn, a nose-bleed seat in the bleachers, and watches the various Big Ones continue to duke it out**

That's a valid point to make. But, what makes the IWW "one big union" is that it doesn't divide worker's based on trade, or skill/unskilled. The union is organized geographically, rather then along trade, since we're all in the fight together. When it comes down to it, it's actually a lot more decentralized then unions like the AFL-CIO.

Technically speaking, there is no "Starbucks Workers Union", but this is excellent news nonetheless.
I hope this spawns further national action.

Hurrah for the Wobblies!

(One Big Union member number X360612, section 620)X353981 Industrial Union 660.
Nice to see we've gotten to the X360s, though.

I dunno, the "One Big" anything concept is bothersome to me. Not that I'm shedding any tears for the Boss, mind you. As suggested by my signature, the absolute value of my libertarian-ness is greater than the absolute value of my left-ness, is all.

**grabs some popcorn, a nose-bleed seat in the bleachers, and watches the various Big Ones continue to duke it out**IWW structure is highly decentralized.

Hurrah for the Wobblies!

(One Big Union member number X360612, section 620)


ok, i agree with the idea that the iww also has,
that workers ought to own and operate democratically their workplaces.

but i don't get the "one big union" thing.
how would/could 6 billion people all agree and vote on some sort of policy or whatever.

but i don't get the "one big union" thing.


http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13103589&postcount=9

but i don't get the "one big union" thing.

One out - all out. Every strike a general strike. Who can fight a war when you've got no ammunition? Who can lower wages and raise hours when nothing is moving? Who will defeat the workers if they stop everything?

That's the idea behind the One Big Union. It's a good one.

Who will defeat the workers if they stop everything?

Workers who don't stop. Workers with families to feed, bills to pay, or who don't feel inclined to face the Pinkertons. Workers who don't know about, care about, or otherwise sympathize with other trades or skills.

Workers who don't, in fact, share interests. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13103920&postcount=11)

See also: The Free Rider Problem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_rider_problem).