Slog - Comments on Does This Really Sound That Unreasonable? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable From the Starbucks Union site: 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... Copyright 2008 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:13:57 -0800 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:26:10 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by mattymatt No one held a gun to their head and made them choose a job in coffee service.

]]> mattymatt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064473 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064473 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:23:46 -0800 Comment by Cato the Younger Younger Since the closures will happen later this year: Starbucks likely is not totally sure which stores are going to get the axe. But by all means: let's go all anti-business.

]]> Cato the Younger Younger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064494 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064494 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:32:55 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Dignity? At Starbucks? Sure thing. Maybe they can call them "associates" instead of "clerks" -- though "clerk" is in reality a far more dignified thing to be.

I'll bet most Starbucks employees would take a few dollars more pay over dignity any day. But I'm pretty sure Starbucks' union results in a net loss of take-home pay (dues are more than bargained-for wage increases), so I guess they'll have to settle for dignity.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064509 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064509 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:41:27 -0800 Comment by union #1 - #3, wow, what douchebags you all are. I just love anti-labor "liberals."

]]> union http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064535 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064535 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:54:45 -0800 Comment by elenchos Heh, I might actually start going to Starbucks every day if they were unionized.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064546 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064546 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:59:57 -0800 Comment by Lee Gibson If you're relying on a corporation to give you dignity, you're doing it wrong.

If you're relying on anybody other than yourself for dignity, you're doing it wrong.

]]> Lee Gibson http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064550 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064550 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:51 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I'm a union member, union. But I like unions that matter. That press release comes from one that doesn't matter.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064566 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064566 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:07:28 -0800 Comment by OLWest #1 & #3, it's patrons like you that get that extra special creaminess in your latte.

]]> OLWest http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064572 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064572 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:11:09 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave "baristas" at starbucks don't actually pull shots which requires some degree of skill. unions are mostly useless in situations where the employee they are supposedly protecting can be replaced by someone cheaper or by someone else completely.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064579 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064579 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:17:44 -0800 Comment by Constance Smythe-Hertzford @4 What is so terribly douchey about FNARF's comment? He pointed out that union dues will likely exceed the financial benefit of collective bargaining. If you want to disagree with him, go ahead and disagree. Don't just label him and move on.

]]> Constance Smythe-Hertzford http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064588 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064588 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:23:17 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave OLWest, if you actually are a starbucks barista then you're just reinforcing the point that starbucks baristas are worthless and childish human beings that should only be making child like wages.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064589 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064589 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:23:18 -0800 Comment by Non Use the energy invested in unionizing to get a better damned job

]]> Non http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064616 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064616 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:37:51 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Oh, Constance, another admirer! Of the Steilacoom Smythe-Hertzfords, I assume?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064628 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064628 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:40:39 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Last nite, since so many people made an issue of it, I cracked a union-made Kokanee beer and drank it in honor of Canada Day (was out of hard BC cider).

God, days like this, I sure miss living in a country where most workers are unionized ... and do a heck of a lot better as a result.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064630 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064630 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:41:17 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave Will, nobody in the United States likes you anyway.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064655 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064655 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:51:46 -0800 Comment by ha Did you seriously put "Starbucks", "dignity", and "barista" in the same sentence?

]]> ha http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064665 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064665 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:55:09 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Will, the average American has a considerably higher standard of living than the average Canadian.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064758 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064758 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:45:04 -0800 Comment by elenchos And only 25% of Canadian workers are in a union. I'm guessing the stuff Will said about zinc is also false, but who knows? Stopped clock...

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064781 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064781 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:56:30 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave @18, a stopped clock is still pretty much useless.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064803 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064803 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:05:39 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @17 - no, not really. You're thinking back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Not this century.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064868 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064868 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:38:09 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Time for a purge, Will; you're full of shit again.

GDP per capita, adjusted for PPP, according to the IMF, 2007: US, 45,845 (6th); Canada 38,435 (12th).

GDP per capita, adjusted for PPP, according to the World Bank, 2006: US, 43,968 (5th); Canada 36,713 (12th).

GDP per capita, adjusted for PPP, according to the CIA World Factbook, 2007: US, 45,800 (8th); Canada 38,400 (16th).

You're wrong.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064926 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1064926 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:28:00 -0800 Comment by PopTart Will wrong? Really. Unbelievable.

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1065061 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/does_this_really_sound_that_unreasonable#c1065061 Chow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:26:10 -0800