JANUARY 8 DAY OF ACTION
DAY OF ACTION AGAINST STARBUCKS EDINBURGH saw another joint picket by IWW and the city's Zapatista support group on the Starbucks outlet in its world-famous Royal Mile. Despite bitter weather, at its peak this writer counted 20 on the picket, about half from each grouping. We brought the branch banner and the Zaps again brought a free coffee stall. Hundreds of jointly produced leaflets were handed out. Unfortunately the flier was (literally) being printed when we received the news that the American Labour Relations Board had found in favour of the IWW Baristas, otherwise we would have included this happy update.
This time the manager didn't try to get us moved on, but one of his minions, evidently bucking for promotion, came out and gave a lengthy spiel on what a wonderful employer Starbucks was and how we could all do a lot worse than getting a job there. When it was pointed out to her that her beloved Starbucks had just been found culpable in the US on 7 counts of breaking employment law, including intimidation and bribery, her face dropped and she vanished inside. Two of Lothian's finest stopped by, scrounged a cup of coffee in Starbucks (no one invited them to have a free Zapatista coffee) and quietly departed, leaving one of the outlet's windows completely blocked out by the branch banner and a teeming coffee stall set up before the other. There they remained for the 3 hours of the picket. Numerous people including groups of tourists were turned away from Starbucks after talking to the picket and perusing the flier. Many chose the free Zap coffee over the 'hot sweet and filthy' concoction on offer inside ('It tastes of workers' blood' we would tell those who crossed the picket and went in) and stayed to talk. The outlet stayed quiet throughout the demo, sometimes empty. Once I looked in the open door and saw the manager and his faithful minion leaning forlornly on their elbows at the counter, gazing at the hive of activity outside.
An Indymedia reporter interviewed picketers - then went into Starbucks to interview the manager. 'I'm not allowed to say anything,' said the manager. 'Well, can I talk to your staff?' asked the intrepid reporter. 'No,' came the reply. 'They're not allowed to say anything either.' Yes, a wonderful employer. (No report seems to have appeared on Indymedia to date.) Those who attended both Starbucks pickets felt that this one was even more successful than the one back in November.
A couple of days later we heard of the charges being dropped against Dan gross. We applaud the NY Baristas on their 'double whammy' victory and ensure our continued solidarity and support. (GLASGOW IWW is planning a joint picket with the local Zapatista group on 14 January, to coincide with Dan Gross' appearance in a New York court. The flier has been updated. Watch this space.) HULL IWW picketed a Starbucks in a retail centre. 'The manager had an attack of the vapours when we turned up,' says the Hull branch report. 'The sole Hull location is peculiar, not a high street site, but on a retail park on the city boundary, almost as if they're ashamed to be associated with Fat City. The estate is patrolled by private security so we knew our stay wouldn't be indefinite. We went inside, leafleted the staff and all the customers, left some in strategic places around the building, then stood outside handing out the leaflets out till security came (Max and Paddy look-alikes, no kidding!). We were politely but firmly told to piss off, and never return, which we agreed to do. End of story.'
JAN 8 day of action against Starbucks--
"There were about 20 on the joint IWW/Zapatista picket, 9 of them Edinburgh Wobs. Numerous people were turned away from the cafe after talking to the picket, including entire groups, and Starbucks in the High Street, just down from the Castle, stayed quiet and often empty for the 3 hours the picket was in place."-Eddie M. Secretary, Edinburgh GMB
Despite cold weather, wobblies and labor activists protest in several cities. Edinburg wobblies show Starbucks bosses that the struggle for workers' rights will not be ignored...
NOV 20: PROTESTERS TARGET STARBUCKS
Zapatista supporters and activists from the revolutionary union the IWW descended on Starbucks stores in Glasgow and
Edinburgh on Saturday 20th November. The protestors showed solidarity with Starbucks workers in New York City and with the indigenous Zapatista movement in Chiapas, southern Mexico. The demonstrators served up free Zapatista coffee to customers and passers-by outside Starbucks stores in Edinburghand Glasgow city centres.
Starbucks exploiting workers
Joe from the IWW - the Industrial Workers of the World - said, " Starbucks workers in New York are battling their bosses to establish an IWW Union and improve their wages and conditions. Currrently workers start at 7 dollars 75 cents per hour and have no guaranteed hours. Deliberate low staffing levels result in stress and poor health and safety, repetitive strain injury and burns being not uncommon.
"Starbucks have responded with union-busting tactics, including victimising one of the main union organisers", Daniel Gross. The
Starbucks workers in New York have told us they are really excited by these actions of international solidarity."
Starbucks oppressing indigenous people
Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group member Esther stated, "Starbucks make great play of serving fair trade coffee. The reality
is that less than 2% of their coffee is supposedly fair trade - and that comes from an organisation called Conservation International which is trying to get indigenous people evicted from the Montes Azules area in Chiapas.
"Conservation International is a notorious "greenwash" organisation, funded by US state agencies and multinational
corporations. Starbucks are a major partner and backer of Conservation International - and are therefore complicit in their hidden war on indigenous communities. The Zapatista villages in Montes Azules have declared they are not going to
allow eviction, and we are acting in solidarity with these autonomous communities."
PICKETS of STARBUCKS SAT 20TH NOVEMBER GLASGOW
12.30 - 1.30pm Picket of Starbucks, Sauchiehall Street (near Royal Concert Hall)
EDINBURGH
Starbucks, 124 High Street (near the Tron) from
12.15pm
CONTACTS
Glasgow Zapatista Solidarity
glasgowzapatistas@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.glazap.j12.org
Edinburgh-Chiapas Solidarity Group
edinchiapas@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.edinchiapas.org.uk
Industrial Workers of the World
edinburghiww@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.freewebs.com/edinburghiww
Eddie M.
Branch Secretary
Edinburgh General Membership Branch
Industrial Workers of the World
17 W. Montgomery Place, Edinburgh