As part of the Global Day of Action against Starbucks called by the AIT/IWA and IWW Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast today (5th July) to demand the reinstatement of Monica, a member of the anarcho-syndicalist member working in their central Seville outlet, and Cole Dorsey, an IWW member who was fired by Starbucks for organising in their Grand Rapids, Michican, shop.

Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast city centre today from 12 to 1 pm. Despite the miserable weather around 12 people joined the picket and leafleted passers by and potential customers outside the coffee shop. At the start of the picket 3 people had gone inside to leaflet customers and staff. There was a very positive response to the picket however one person was falsely accused of assaulting a Starbuck's member of staff after leafleting staff and customers inside.

While Starbucks present themselves as a trendy, ethical corporation when it comes to their own workers they are ruthless union-busters determined to stop their employees organising. Monica was fired on the 24th of April without notice. She had worked in the central Seville branch of Starbucks for a year and a half when her manager suddenly claimed she "created problems with her workmates". She had resistged management when they made people work public holidays without extra pay. She refused to attend work meetings outside working hours where no pay or time in lieu was offered. Her sacking came after she asked about another worker who had ben fired. The store manager had told her on several occasions that she must have nothing to do with unions.

Barely a month later, in Grand Rapids, Michican, USA, Starbucks fired Cole Dorsey on June 6th. Cole had over two years of service and was active in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union.

Originally posted here

IWW Starbucks Workers Union, StarbucksUnion.org

July 1, 2008

Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union on the Announcement of 600 Starbucks Store Closures

"The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is deeply troubled that management's numerous missteps are resulting in more serious hardships for baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors.

To ensure transparency, Starbucks should immediately disclose the locations it intends to close and outline its severance plan. Starbucks and its CEO Howard Schultz must minimize the number of layoffs, assure adequate notice to affected families, and offer severance pay which is fair. Employees and their families deserve to be able to safeguard their futures.

If Starbucks is serious about distinguishing itself from competitors like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, Schultz should stop prohibiting full-time status for retail hourly employees and improve a health care plan which insures a lower percentage of workers than Wal-Mart's. And the company should stop wasting millions of dollars on its union-busting lawyers and PR professionals at Akin Gump and Edelman."

Related Stories:

• Starbucks axes stores to get out of hot water
• Starbucks May Rise on Plans to Cut Staff, Stores

No. 3

Saludos de la Comisión de Solidaridad Internacional (CSI) de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo (IWW) y bienvenidos a la tercera edición de nuestro boletín mensual internacional.

El propósito de este boletín es informar a nuestros aliados alrededor del mundo de todas nuestras actividades, campañas solidarias e información relevante de luchas laborales internacionales. Esperamos que este boletín contribuya a la construcción de la solidaridad entre los trabajadores a través de la comunicación fortalecida y el intercambio de información.

Si desea contribuir ideas o noticias para el boletín, o comunicarse con el CSI, mande un email a solidarity@iww.org.

En esta edición:

Noticias de IWW

- El IWW de Grand Rapids y la CNT de España anuncian un Día Global de Acción
- 20 despedidos en Flaum Appetizing
- E-Z Supply bajo órdenes de pagar $1 millón

Acciones y Eventos de la CSI

- Foro sobre Organización Industrial de IWW en Chile

Coordinated Actions Across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America Could Be Largest Ever Against Coffee Chain

For Immediate Release:

IWW Starbucks Workers Union, StarbucksUnion.org

Grand Rapids , MI ( 06-30-2008 )- Union members and social activists are gearing up for what may be the largest, global coordinated action against Starbucks ever. Protesters will decry what they see as an epidemic of anti-union terminations by the world’s largest coffee chain. Starbucks and its CEO Howard Schultz have exhibited a pattern of firing outspoken union baristas ever since the advent of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union in 2004 and are demonstrating the same practice against the CNT union in Spain.

"On July 5th people around the world will show Starbucks that we, baristas along with our supporters, will have a voice and Starbucks discrimination and repression of our efforts will not go unchecked", said Cole Dorsey.

Saludos de la Comisión de Solidaridad Internacional (CSI) de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo (IWW) y bienvenidos a la tercera edición de nuestro boletín mensual internacional.

El propósito de este boletín es informar a nuestros aliados alrededor del mundo de todas nuestras actividades, campañas solidarias e información relevante de luchas laborales internacionales. Esperamos que este boletín contribuya a la construcción de la solidaridad entre los trabajadores a través de la comunicación fortalecida y el intercambio de información.

Si desea contribuir ideas o noticias para el boletín, o comunicarse con el CSI, mande un email a solidarity@iww.org.

En esta edición:

Noticias de IWW

- El IWW de Grand Rapids y la CNT de España anuncian un Día Global de Acción

- 20 despedidos en Flaum Appetizing

- E-Z Supply bajo órdenes de pagar $1 millón

Acciones y Eventos de la CSI

- Foro sobre Organización Industrial de IWW en Chile

 

- Solidaridad con ZSP contra Lionbridge

Campañas Solidarias y Comunicados

- Solidaridad con trabajadores temporales indios en huelga de hambre

- Defendiendo el Sindicato de Empleados de SVA Ruba Electronics

- Reclamando justicia para trabajadores textiles despedidos en Haití

- Solidaridad con trabajadores haitianos despedidos

- Solidaridad con trabajadores mexicanos y el Sindicato FAT

- La Coalición de Trabajadores de KSS en México demanda derechos laborales

 

 

Greetings from the International Solidarity Commission (ISC) of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and welcome to the third digest of our monthly international news letter. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep our allies around the world informed of our activities, solidarity campaigns, and relevant international labor struggles. It is our hope that this newsletter will contribute to building worker-to-worker solidarity through strengthened communications and exchanges of information.

If you would like to contribute story ideas or news for the bulletin, or wish to contact the ISC, you can email solidarity@iww.org.

Saludos de la Comisión de Solidaridad Internacional (ISC) de los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo (IWW) y bienvenidos a nuestro boletín internacional mensual.

El propósito de este boletín es mantener a nuestros aliados alrededor del mundo informados de nuestras actividades, campañas de solidaridad, y luchas obreras relevantes. Esperamos que este boletín contribuya a construir solidaridad entre trabajadores reforzando las comunicaciones e intercambios de información.