Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union on the Purchase of a $45 Million Corporate Jet by Starbucks

For Immediate Release:

Starbucks Workers Union (Industrial Workers of the World)

Contact: [email protected]

January 9, 2009

Statement of the IWW Starbucks Workers Union on the Purchase of a $45 Million Corporate Jet by Starbucks

"The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is appalled that Starbucks spent $45 million on a new corporate jet so that CEO Howard Schultz could spend the holidays in Hawaii glad-handing sports superstars while baristas and shift supervisors are denied the work hours they need to make ends meet in the midst of an economic crisis.  With that $45 million, Starbucks could provide over five million additional work hours to employees in need or maintain its gutted 401k program for three additional years.

Starbucks' new corporate jet only seats 19 passengers.  That leaves out tens of thousands of us so-called partners.  As a company that claims to treat all of its employees with "respect and dignity", Starbucks should sell its extravagant jet and use the money to benefit its workers and their families, not just senior executives.  Starbucks should start by scaling back painful across-the-board labor cuts and maintaining a transparent 401k matching plan, so that workers know what to expect before they put their money away for decades.

In today's dire economic climate, there is no room for this kind of corporate extravagance.  Instead of bearing their share of the burden, Starbucks management has recklessly chosen to further reward their poor performance.  As Starbucks wastes much needed funds on unnecessary luxuries, it can expect increased resistance from baristas and shift supervisors seeking job security and sufficient work hours."

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union (StarbucksUnion.org) is an organization of almost 300 current and former employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for secure work hours, a living wage, and an independent voice on the job.  Through direct action, public education, and legal advocacy, the union fights for systemic change at Starbucks and confronts management over unfair treatment of individual employees.

The Industrial Workers of the World (iww.org) is a global grassroots union open to all working people.