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News & ArtsMonday, June 1, 2009
Chow / Retail Starbucks' Labor Woes
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Starbucks just settled with the National Labor Relations Board "agreeing to let Minneapolis-area employees post union materials in their break areas and discuss union issues while on the job, as long as it doesn't interfere with their performance," says the Seattle Times's Coffee City blog (where "Melissa Allison tracks Seattle's—and the world's—caffeine addiction"—who knew?). It's the sixth such settlement in three years.
Photo by Lori Paulson from The Stranger's flickr pool.
1
So long as they can pay cash to make the issue go away while not actually changing anything ...
(I say that as a former Starbucks investor)
(I say that as a former Starbucks investor)
2
You could also Slog about Starbucks paying right-wing blowhard Joe Scarborough ten million smackers to push their coffee on his show.
3
People will blame the union but Starbucks has already jumped the shark - it's only a matter of time until they shrink into a modest regional chain.
5
Disaffected baristas with a union? Where's Henry Clay Frick when you need him? And just imagine the scabs. No, thank you.
6
Why go to SBUX anyway? You can get the new organic fair trade locally made spiced chocolate drink free at Theo's Chocolate in Fremont, or buy a big cup for only $2.50 instead.
The only reason I go to SBUX is if I'm stuck somewhere without decent coffee and they're the only game in town.
The only reason I go to SBUX is if I'm stuck somewhere without decent coffee and they're the only game in town.
7
Forgive me for not giving a shit about baristas who get paid a decent wage and have pretty good benefits. Seems like the only winner would be the union itself...
9
Years ago when I worked for Borders Books, there was a major union push, and from the materials given, we were all going to be making 12 dollars an hour or more and paying modestly to the union in the form of dues. I left not too long after and the store I was at never unionized, but I thought that in the end, they were not offering much in the way of benefits for being a union store. The actual pay increases were modest, maybe 40 or 50 cents, and beyond that, nothing really changed.
It's retail, and at the end of the day, I don't see unionization ever making a huge impact on the way retail works in the way I definitely feel unions were able to do in the many other industries, like auto unions etc.
It's retail, and at the end of the day, I don't see unionization ever making a huge impact on the way retail works in the way I definitely feel unions were able to do in the many other industries, like auto unions etc.
12
Sorry, Starbucks? Borders? Guys, these are, by definition, dead end jobs. OK, when you're young, then you're supposed to grow up and figure about you want to be. If you're still at Starbucks, you're beyond help.
Sorry folks, you should have studied harder in school. Otherwise hope you can teach your kids to make better choices in life.
Sorry folks, you should have studied harder in school. Otherwise hope you can teach your kids to make better choices in life.
13
What is it about unions that they dogpile on businesses that are clearly on the way down, closing stores and have declining profits?
What is it about unions that they dogpile on businesses that are clearly on the way down, closing stores and have declining profits?
14
What is it about some Americans that they are so susceptible to hysteria and propaganda about unions?
I've been on both sides of the table: union member and management. When a union work environment is bad, the overwhelming majority of the fault lies with lazy and/or stupid management that doesn't bother to read the contracts they agreed to, and don't bother to learn the disciplinary process. Then, when a shop goes to hell, they blame the union for their own incompetence.
If the employees of Starbucks want to organize, that's their right and their business. A matter of choice, you might say.
As to what career is appropriate for whom, and at what age, that's just stupid and elitist. Not everyone can be as brilliant as some of you think you are, darlings.
I've been on both sides of the table: union member and management. When a union work environment is bad, the overwhelming majority of the fault lies with lazy and/or stupid management that doesn't bother to read the contracts they agreed to, and don't bother to learn the disciplinary process. Then, when a shop goes to hell, they blame the union for their own incompetence.
If the employees of Starbucks want to organize, that's their right and their business. A matter of choice, you might say.
As to what career is appropriate for whom, and at what age, that's just stupid and elitist. Not everyone can be as brilliant as some of you think you are, darlings.
16
Wow you have to really work hard at violating the law to lose six NLRB decisions in 3 years while the NLRB is stacked with Republicans.
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