Starbucks Workers Union Press Conference in Grand Rapids, MI

[poleske]

@2682nscovell

The point of labor Union is to provide decent jobs not to "give a middle finger" to companies. Why leave a bad job for a worse job??? also yes many organizers could get better paying job but doing that is accepting a society with people working under unfair conditions for un-livable wages... I personally do not wish to have anyone in my society treated as a slave. If you are pro-slavery than that is your choice.

[poleske]

I hate to be a buzzkill but that woman in the back, if she is a member of the IWW, is arguably violating the constitution by wearing a Green Party sweater.... The IWW constitution clearly states that a WOB is not to support any political party while representing the I.W.W. I find this be be a somewhat serious violation. It is important the I.W.W. does not get  drawn into the corrupt political party system.

[davidcom93]

The point is that every worker regardless his position is a humman being & deserves not only to be treated with dignity and respect but also deserves to have a decent job that provides him/her with enough income so they can have housing, food and healt care. Honestly, I think every single job or position could be or not profesional. It depends on the one that excutes that expecific task. In other words, a barista or a truck driver could be more profesional than doctor or or a business owner.

[poleske]

SOLIDARITY

Keep fighting brothers and sisters.

[NoYouShutUpDad]

Goddamn I love the IWW

[EscapedPsychopath]

Right on.

[Gabb0123]

hahaha, spoken like a true capitalist.

enjoy your gallows at the hand of organised labor, when the social revolution begins.

[trueathlete15]

yeah you keep dreaming that. You freak. Enjoy prison when you fail to do this

[Shineshop2008]

LMAO @ "baristas" talking tough

[iamchaddangit]

Starbucks employees certainly get better benefits and whatnot than the employees for the coffee chain i work for...

and when I joked about unionizing my boss said "i could train anyone to do this job...if you want to form a union, see what happens"

haha, good times

[nouse4dogooders]

good for your boss!!!!!!

[iamchaddangit]

Haha yeah...it was all in good fun anyways

[Gabb0123]

But he couldn't re-train the entire workforce before he went bust, and hence, the union makes us strong!

You should unionize :)

[trueathlete15]

No...... pretty sure you could train i don't 10-20 people to make coffee. Its not that hard. Unions make us weaker. Ever wonder why all your products are made in other countries? Cause its too expensive to make it here. Just ask GM how well Unions have benefitted their company?

[trueathlete15]

i don't know 10-20 people***** sorry for the typo

[Gabb0123]

I wouldn't ask GM how great the union was, i'd ask the workers.

Unions do make us stronger. All our products are made elsewhere not because unions got us better wages/conditions, but because of how cheap labour in a country with a military dictatorship(or at least just an oppressive government), is. They could still afford to make products here, but they don't, not because they'll make a loss at all, but because they make MORE profit from elsewhere.

Even so, thank unions for the weekend.

[trueathlete15]

Well, GM manufactured their cars here and....... the union sucked them dry and now they are bankrupt. They're looking real strong now...... If you don't like your job go find another one. Don't bitch until you get your way like a little baby. Unions were needed in the pre WWII era not now! They can't afford to make anything if their union leeches ask for a raise every 12 seconds and their retired workers get 100% of their wages for their pensions. Never hire union. They suck

[EscapedPsychopath]

Yes, because the CEOs who had all the real power had absolutly NOTHING to do with running their companies, it was all the union's. Right, uh-huh.

[trueathlete15]

well when the CEO's can't run their companies cause little baristas want $4 more an hour to pour coffee then the CEO's have more difficulty in managing their company. Stop globalization? Ok so you're a communist... makes sense. But dipshit before you try to insult me learn how to spell fucktard. Genius. People work so they can afford food and shelter and if you keep on striking you shouldn't have that job that supports you.

[EscapedPsychopath]

I'll take you seriously when you don't insult people. Insulting people shows nothing but contempt and ignorance.

[trueathlete15]

I'll take you seriously when you learn how to spell retard. Shows the mental capacity of those who support unions. No, I'm pretty sure insulting you just shows how dumb you really are :)

[EscapedPsychopath]

Yes, keep making an ass of yourself. To be honest, your persistence is quite amusing.

[EscapedPsychopath]

Not only that, but it amuses me that you are trying to base the whole of my intelligence on ONE spelling error. If that isn't stupidity, I don't know what is.

[trueathlete15]

No, it is. I mean if you don't know how to spell one little word maybe you should go back to that psychiatric ward you "escaped" from. Plus, why would i believe anything you say? You're crazy, remember psychopath. Ha ha ha ha ha this is fun

[EscapedPsychopath]

How are you honestly getting a kick out of this? Are that deprived?

[trueathlete15]

I'm honestly getting a kick out of this cause you're THAT stupid. Its just funny to hear you try to make a comeback. I mean you can barely put together a coherent sentence together without fucking up one way or the other. So yeah i find it hilarious. I think you are the deprived one considering you're a psychopath and everything? Probably should make your way back to seek help....

[EscapedPsychopath]

That's why you stop globalization, geniuse.

[EscapedPsychopath]

Sorry for wanting people who work to be able to afford food and shelter. We're such horrid people! Why do we even exist!? Besides, that's why you stop globalization.

[HawtLeak]

i dont get it.. if theyre unhappy with Starbucks' way of scheduling, benefits n etc, why STAY? i mean, they went through all the union all the troubles when they could just quit the job n get a better one

[PianoGirlLara87]

It's not just for THEM. It's for all the future baristas too. It's easy to say "just quit and find another job", but if they're anything like me, it was hard enough finding a job, especially right now when a lot of companies are filing chapter 13's and closing down/laying people off. They (starbucks) need to be fair to their workers, period.

[HawtLeak]

iuno. I work at Starbucks and I'm loving it

[mrgoodvibrations]

Baristas what are the origens of that fancy title?

[PianoGirlLara87]

It's Italian. Uncle Howie went to Italy once and thought it would be a great idea.

PS Please correct me if I'm mistaken :-)

[IWW610]

SOLIDARITY FELLOW WORKERS!

[majorMcpharter]

Workers of all lands unite and abolish the wages system.

[starrstruknn]

This is all lies. If you worked more you would see what the company does for its partners. Why don't you just quit if its so bad, you olny work one day a week anyway, so you should have nothing to complain about. The health care is not expensive, I go to school part time, have great health coverage through starbucks and work full time and fully support myself on this job alone. Get a fucking life.

[Erico49]

I am responding in an impartial manner to point out that just hurling invective is not a good way to make an argument.

Union or no union, a lot of companies like Starbucks make it a practice to keep wages low, thwart people in getting enough hours to get by on, and I'd suggest you compare your health plan to others offered by unionized workplaces. You've been fleeced and the sad thing is that you've bought into it.

[starrstruknn]

First of all I dont believe you are educated in the wages of Starbucks, you start out at above minimum wage and are able to receive raises every six months. Also for the past 15 years of my life I've had health care through my fathers carpenters union which is very much comparable to the insurance I have now. The health care I have now is more affordable than what I've had in the past.

[starrstruknn]

First of all I dont believe you are educated in the wages of Starbucks, you start out at above minimum wage and are able to receive raises every six months. Also for the past 15 years of my life I've had health care through my fathers carpenters union which is very much comparable to the insurance I have now. The health care I have now is more affordable than what I've had in the past.

[starrstruknn]

Im happy with what Im doing now and I don't plan on making a life time carrer out of it, I have bigger and better goals this job is just getting me through college.

[peacesolidaritylove]

You're a fucking tool starrstrknn.

[goatman311]

This is stupid. He stated lies about that store. These damn people need a life.

[autonomous18]

last comment was a reply to owie32

[autonomous18]

Retail workers are the predominant working class in America today, ergo, Starbucks workers are working class. And two, of the anarchists in the IWW, I think in large we represent the organizationalist class struggle variety who are just as critical of the solely activist anarchists, if in a more productive way. As to supporting fair trade, it is a tactic to prove how hollow management rhetoric is and it is way to show international solidarity.

[autonomous18]

(all workers have and equal say regardless of political affiliation)

[faw128]

crikey, starbucks management has really pulled out all the stops getting you muppets onto youtube!

the IWW is growing. it is mostly not middle class white kids (hello, in NYC there's a bunch of warehouses organised by the IWW where all the employees are latino and filipino!), it is fighting and sometimes winning. yes, we're small, and yes we've got a long way to go but idiots who have no idea about labour activism or the IWW should learn about it or shut up.

well done Grand Rapids wobblies :-)

[ouwie32]

I frequently visit the Starbucks on Wealthy St. in Grand Rapids. I have never seen any these people working there. If you don't like your job then quit, it's that simple. Seriously, get a life

[autonomous18]

and get another shitty low wage job? The only way workers have ever achieved any gains from management was to struggle for it. It is that exact same sort of attitude that leads to the fact that in real dollars, American workers are making less and working more today than anytime in the past 40 years. The coincides, not coincidentally, to the decline of unions in the US.

[Erico49]

Get your own life. These people work not only at the Wealthy store, but the other Starbucks locations. That is a problem for them too. Sad to note that you can't show a little heart for some young people trying to get ahead and make a living wage.

[NortonYorksterdam]

The labor demands sound ok - now what is with demanding Starbucks pay "fair trade" prices for all their coffee?

That's called a political activist group, not a union. That's why the IWW is 100% middle class Whites. They don't know any workers in Colombia so they will settle for a pay off to some "fair trade" front group - also run by Whites.

IWW sure aint what it used to be.

[autonomous18]

Barfin-

In the spirit of solidarity, why all the animosity? The union movement in America has been on a steady decline for decades, yet, regardless numbers, the IWW is one of the only GROWING unions in America. Why denigrate your fellow struggling workers?

[NortonYorksterdam]

the IWW isn't growing you liar. Go back to your bullshit anarcho-collecovision discussion groups please. The IWW got some more White bisexual college kids rebelling against their CEO parents. Who cares? Shut the fuck up you aren't a real union.

[Erico49]

Can you make an argument without profanity? Furthermore, you state the IWW isn't growing. What facts and figures do you have????

[NortonYorksterdam]

When you deal with the working class people the language can get a little rough. I'm sorry you feel sensitive about it.

[barfinpuppy]

Wow 100,000 members at the peak! That is really impressive.

Maybe it will grow back to that huge number from its 14 members today.

[autonomous18]

diddo on laughingman

[autonomous18]

diddo on the laughingman.

[barfinpuppy]

Solidarity with a bunch of jackasses?

Sounds great. You got your bulletin board. Call the press...Oh you did. Congratulations on this terrific milestone.

[autonomous18]

A longstanding joke of a union? The IWW was the most militant union the US ever saw. At there peak there was well over 100,000 members and it took a concerted effort of government repression, mob-lynchings, deportations and public redbaiting ("just a collection of marxists and anarachist") to break the might of the union. As to your unfounded redbaiting, the IWW is based on the notion of worker control of industry, not state-communism, not violence, but democratic control of the economy.

[NortonYorksterdam]

and that militant unionism - the strongest America ever saw - got you what exactly? $10 an hour at Starbucks and bullshit health care?

You know, the boring old conservative UAW did a hell of a lot better than you college art school dropouts ever did. Fuck the IWW, I'll stay with the middle class, boring old business capitalist unions - now go put on a bandanna and chain yourself to something.

[barfinpuppy]

The IWW is just a collection of Marxists and anarchists.  A longstanding joke of a union. It has about 14 members.

[thelaughingman]

its good to know that solidarity is lost on you.

[autonomous18]

IWW influence - well they've been in existence for over 100 years. The CIO owes their organizational structure (but not their authoritarianism) to the IWW. Much of the rhetoric of the 60's is inundated with IWW tactics & themes--compare the IWW free speech fights with the C.D. of the Civil Rights Movement & the 'student syndicalism' of SDS with IWW economic syndicalism.

[autonomous18]

Today, the IWW is the union leading the fight to organize high turnover retail industries and doing it the way they've always done it--union democracy & direct action.

[Jaekos]

If you like only working 8 hours a day (instead of 16), and having weekends off -- thank the IWW. Wobblies DIED winning rights for all workers. FYI, as for "14 members" -- right here in conservative Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the IWW has over 30 members.