This behavior from Starbucks isn't new. Look around and some stories go back 15-20 years.
Starbucks settles discrimination suit:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/319668_starbuckseeoc14.htmlWoman, 53, files age discrimination suit against Starbucks:
http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2007/11/woman-53-files.htmlMore Employees File Suit Against Starbucks Over Sexual Harassment, Discrimination in the Workplace:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1998_July_1/ai_50137290Faced With IWW Pressure, Starbucks Releases Sub-Par Health Care Number:
http://www.iww.org/en/node/1900("The Starbucks socially responsible image is all smoke and mirrors + Starbucks' 42% figure includes management officials)
Starbucks Settles Charges with NLRB over Anti-Union Activities in Grand Rapids:
http://www.iww.org/en/node/3687NLRB rules in favor of Starbucks union:
http://www.laborradio.org/node/391Union Scores Big Victory Against Starbucks at Labor Board:
http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/713Starbucks refuses to drop it's contract with Cintas.
Worker Killed at Starbucks' Uniform Supplier Cintas:
http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1216Tell Starbucks Dump Your Dirty Laundry:
http://www.umgeo.org/2003/08/30/tell-starbucks-dump-your-dirty-laundry/Day of action in support of Cintas workers:
http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/3340/1/143/(Cintas, the nation’s largest manufacturer of uniforms, with $234 million in profits last year, has been cited 25 times by the National Labor Relations Board for sexual and racial discrimination, refusing to pay overtime, surveillance and interrogation of employees and illegally firing union supporters. )
(New York isn’t the only place where Cintas has violated labor law. On March 19, charges were brought against Cintas in California on behalf of 3,500 employees who were deliberately misclassified as exempt from overtime. Some were even forced to work up-to 70 hours a week. The lawsuits could cost Cintas $75 to $100 million for unpaid overtime. )
(An additional 40 lawsuits have been filed against Cintas for racial, sexual, age and disability discrimination. And the company has been cited and fined eight times for failing to pay the federal minimum wage.)
Starbucks says in its mission statement that it “strives to buy, sell, and use environmentally friendly products” and “instill environmental responsibility.” Katie Unger, of UNITE, said, “Starbucks needs to put its money where its mouth is. Cintas is responsible for dumping untreated wastewater into rivers.” This “is an environmental and worker problem,” she said.
There are plenty of links out there on news and government sites too. I won't buy shares in the Blue Fund because it has Starbucks in it's portfolio:
http://www.bluefund.com/ http://www.bluefund.com/why-blue/blue-companies/index_html?searchterm=starbucks&b_start:int=60 Edit. I almost forgot. Starbucks has been dragging it's feet on fair trade coffee. IF they would take a more pro position, many workers in 3rd world countries would benefit!
OS