IWW Starbucks Union Co-Founder Daniel Gross Facing Termination Pending

[Omaha Steve]

Full article: http://www.iww.org/en/node/2745

IWW Starbucks Union Co-Founder Daniel Gross Facing Termination Pending "Investigation"
Submitted by intexile on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 1:16pm.

n 2004, when Daniel Gross was under attack by Starbucks, you responded with breathtaking solidarity and saved Daniel's job. Please stand with us again. Together let us show Starbucks the dignity of the working class and the beauty of our labor movement:

1) Participate in the e-mail action campaign at http://starbucksunion.org/node/1005 and encourage others to participate as well

2) Call Regional Director Jim McDermet at 917-207-8660 to demand that Daniel Gross not be fired and that the right of workers to organize be respected

3) Take other creative actions.




We need your solidarity now. Daniel Gross, an organizer in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, is being "investigated" by the company over a protest he and his co-workers participated in to support another IWW barista, Evan Winterscheidt. Evan was suspended and faced termination because of his union activity and his fellow union members went to protest outside his store to demand that he not be fired. Pending the outcome of Starbucks' "investigation" into Daniel's participation in this act of mutual aid, Starbucks will decide whether or not to fire him. The decision could take place any day so please take action now.

[benburch]

1. ONE BIG UNION!

[saracat]

2. And Starbucks is a blue company! What gives with this?

[w4rma]

3. DLC, anti-union, anti-labor, cheap labor, "free" trade over all?(nt)

[northzax]

19. well they may be anti-labor

but in DC, at least, they pay well over the minimum wage (starting at about $9.50 once tips are factored in) and give benefits to any employee that works at least 20 hours a week. not that shabby for a low skill job.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

4. Done - I'm a big patron & would hate to take my business elsewhere

That's where I do my shopping for Xmas & special occasions - love those gift cards.

[Iowa]

5. Done. Thanks for the alert Omaha Steve.

[readmoreoften]

6. Done and Done. /nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. Done & my attached personal note

"Just a couple weeks ago a new Starbucks opened locally- I had been looking forward to it because although there are three other locations withing driving distance, none were close enough to me to make it a daily convenience. Since the opening of the new store in Rowlett Texas I've bought my morning coffee there every day. I would not enjoy the prospect of choosing another coffe house for my future business, but if this gentleman is fired or in any way disgraced by way of political machinations I will not hesitate to do so.

You have a good company with a good reputation. Why would you feel the need to mess it up with something petty like this?"

[electricray]

8. Here's what I sent them

"I am a union electrician in Portland, Oregon. My family supports Starbucks only because of the way we perceive that they treat their employees. We spend, quite literally, thousands ($2,344 last year to be exact) of dollars per year with Starbucks I would hate to take my business elsewhere simply because you fear unions. If it were not for the large-scale effect that Starbucks can have coupled with the fact that they have used that power for good in the past, we would give our business to any of the multitude of local vendors. Up to now I have felt that supporting a large company that treats its employees like people and not chattle is marginally more important than shopping locally, but that could all change if you persecute those in your company that choose to use the voice that the union gives them. With great power comes great responsibility and your company can choose to use it to become a juggernaut or choose to be a force for good. I will be paying attention. Thank you."

[krkaufman]

13. Well said!

[banana republican]

9. Sorry I like Tully's

FWIW, A friend of mine rents space in a building that is owned by one of the founders of Tully's a nice chain of expresso shop's in the Seattle area. Another tenant, Starbucks, also rents space in the same building. Every month, Starbucks cuts a check to Tully's for the rent.

Some how it just seems fitting...

[Pierzin]

10. Wow, that is so awesome!! This is a great thread, thanks everybody

I don't know any of these people but I totally sympathize. I am also totally underpaid for my job, but if a union rep showed up where i worked because I asked him to I would be so unemployed so fast, yeeeks! and then homeless!

Good luck to you all!

[mark414]

11. how about we just boycott starbucks instead?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. But only if you tell them why

Otherwise, they'll just think you like the lattes better at Seatlle's Best or Peet's or Caribou.

[BrightKnight]

12. A union label on the door would be very good for business.

People want to feel good about their Starbucks experience. Knowing that the employees were solid union people would make many customers happy. Even some of the Bush-bots buy American cars because they like the union label.

The union label is a sign of quality. It is consistent with the high quality coffee that they produce.

Research has shown that there is a direct relationship between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction.

It goes against conventional business thinking but a unionized Starbucks might actually actually be good for business. Starbucks has enough corporate muscle to make it work.

[Blue_Tires]

14. ttt n/t

[Omaha Steve]

15. Looking around I found this: Starbucks hit for Cintas contract

http://www.pww.org/article/view/3671/1/169/



It seems Starbucks has been anti working class for awhile, and I didn't know it.

Starbucks hit for Cintas contract


Search WWW Search pww.org
Archive Recent Editions 2003 Editions Jun 28, 2003

Author: Joelle Fishman


People's Weekly World Newspaper, 06/28/03 00:00


Across the country last week, upscale coffee company Starbucks felt the heat for contracting with union-buster Cintas Corp. to launder aprons, mats and linens. Cintas has been cited repeatedly for breaking the law by discriminating, dumping untreated wastewater, and violating labor law.

The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE!), which is organizing at all 300 Cintas plants, rallied outside Starbucks in many cities calling on the company to stop doing business with Cintas until they sign a union contract with the workers. Starbucks has long claimed to be a socially responsible business. Their mission statement says they “embrace diversity … buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products … and treat each other with dignity and respect.”

Hundreds of delegates to the New Jersey State AFL-CIO legislative conference rallied at Starbucks’ boardwalk stores in Atlantic City. In New Haven, Conn., the unions at Yale were among labor and community supporters to join with Cintas workers across the street from the campus Starbucks, as passing cars honked in solidarity. One week earlier, the Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution calling on Starbucks to end their contract with Cintas until the workers are treated fairly.

Cintas is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violating federal health and safety standards and endangering workers’ lives. Two Cintas workers have died because of illegal and unsafe working conditions. Cintas is also under investigation for over 100 violations of federal labor law, including illegally firing and retaliating against pro-union employees. In April, a national class action lawsuit was filed alleging that Cintas has failed to pay its delivery drivers overtime.

The author can be reached at [e-mail]

[BrightKnight]

16. Gives new meaning to "Black Apron".

It would make more business sense to avoid controversy.

Perhaps lots of activist could buy a share or two of stock and slam them at the annual shareholder's meeting.

[Omaha Steve]

18. I got this reply today from Starbucks!

Not a word about firing Daniel Gross for union activity which is protected, or about Cintas!


Dear Mr. Dawes,


Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.


The heart and soul of Starbucks is our people, which is why we consider our employees partners. We continue to be committed to providing a flexible and progressive work environment, and treating one another with respect and dignity.


Starbucks believes that the employment package we offer is compelling and relevant to our partners. For more than 20 years, Starbucks has offered a generous wage and benefits package to eligible partners, including those working just 20 hours per week or more.. Approximately 85 percent of partners have health coverage, either through Starbucks or another source, such as school, military or as a dependent.


Additionally, the majority of our partners are eligible for ownership in the form of stock options, which makes them truly partners in the business.


Our work environment fosters open, two-way communication and has many ways for our partners to share their thoughts, opinions and concerns. We believe that the direct employment relationship that we currently have with our partners is the best way to help ensure a great work environment.


This has been confirmed in a recent partner survey in which the vast majority identified health benefits, opportunities for growth and development and a positive work environment as a few of the top reasons they choose to work for Starbucks. We have also received recognition from outside sources. Fortune magazine named Starbucks as one of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For" for the eighth time in 2006.


While Starbucks respects the free choice of our partners, we firmly believe that our work environment, coupled with our outstanding compensation and benefits, make unions unnecessary at Starbucks. We respect our partners' right to organize, but believe that they would not find it necessary given our pro-partner environment.


We comply strictly with the laws and guidelines associated with union organizing activities. In fact, discipline and employment termination policies are applied consistently to all partners at Starbucks without consideration of their involvement in union activity. Starbucks takes very seriously its legal obligations and does not take action or retaliate against partners (employees) who express support for unions or take part in union activity.


In order to protect the confidentiality of our current and former partners, Starbucks does not provide specific details about any individual's employment. Partner performance is addressed only after careful consideration of many performance factors and consistent application of company policies and procedures governing employment in keeping with our guiding principle of treating all partners with respect and dignity.
Of course, we understand that partners who are separated will not always acknowledge their responsibility and may even try to rationalize their behavior by distorting the facts and publicly attacking the company. However, we trust that our record of fair treatment and positive partner relations speaks for itself and that the public will not be fooled by such baseless claims."


Thanks again for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.


Best regards,


Kyle P.

Customer Relations

Starbucks Coffee Company

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