Starbucks Busted For Union Busting

[Omaha Steve]

http://consumerist.com/consumer/fair-wages/starbucks-busted-for-union-busting-302842.php

Another week, another round of Bad Employer news about Wal—oh wait, we mean Starbucks this time, which actually has a lower rate of insured employees than the discount chain (42% versus 47%). Last Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of "unlawful anti-union activity" at a store in Michigan, similar to the charges it's currently on trial for in New York.

The Industrial Workers of the World—the union that's been campaigning to organize Starbucks employees for a few years now—claims the chain "threatened to terminate a worker for union activity and denied union members access to the store bulletin board."



Starbucks has until this Friday, September 28th, to settle the Michigan case or proceed to a Labor Board trial as in New York.

In the meantime, Starbucks just lost a motion to defeat a class action from 900 managers seeking overtime pay, and is being investigated over whether it failed to honor the terms of a 2006 settlement involving other anti-union conduct in Michigan.

We suppose Starbucks could start offering $4 pounds of coffee to its employees, but somehow that feels less satisfying than full medical coverage. So remember to tip your barista—that tip box might be doubling as the staff insurance pool.

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. that makes me angry

I have been tolerating higher prices because I thought this was a company who treated their employees well. I will have to rethink the idea of doing business there.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Me too

I thought employee's were covered, for many this is a second job or a second income. I've quit buying Starbuck for other reasons, but this is a good reinforcer.

[MADem]

2. Call 'em all MANAGERS, rather than line workers! Yeaaah, that's the ticket!!! nt

[MADem]

3. .... pardon the double-click... nt

[robinlynne]

4. and starbucks jsut started importing their coffee from.......china. ugh.

[Union Yes]

6. I've been boycotting..

Starbucks for over a year now. This isnt the first time there has been labor strife at this corporation.

Support card check!!! The survival of unions is at stake.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Welcome to the DU & the Labor Forum

Cintas is another reason not to shop at Starbucks.

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

Starbucks hit for Cintas contract

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.