Customers Have a Right to Know the Truth
New York, NY- The Starbucks Baristas Union has released a "Fact Sheet for Guests" packed with information about what it’s like to work at the world’s largest coffee chain. The fact sheet, addressed specifically to Starbucks guests (customers), exposes the truth about the Starbucks poverty pay package as well as unsafe working conditions resulting in endemic repetitive stress and other types of injuries. The document concludes by requesting that customers take steps to support the workers’ unionization effort to achieve a decent livelihood and a sound workplace.
The "Fact Sheet for Guests" debuted this week to enthusiastic customers in New York City. The publication will be distributed nationwide and at select international locations by IWW members and community supporters.
"Starbucks has done a superb job misleading the public about the way the corporation treats their employees," said employee Anthony Polanco. "We felt customers ought to know how Starbucks really treats the folks who take pride in serving them their coffee."
"It was very rewarding to give out the fact sheets to customers coming into my store, especially the regulars," said Daniel Gross, a Starbucks Barista. "I knew they’d be interested, but the outpouring of support we received was simply amazing."
On Monday, May 17 Starbucks workers on 36th and Madison in Midtown Manhattan publicly announced they had formed the first Starbucks Baristas Union in the nation with the IWW IU/660 - the Retail Workers Union. The workers are standing strong as an NLRB union certification election approaches.
Fact Sheet For Starbucks Guests
The truth is Baristas genuinely enjoy providing you with your drink. For most of us it is the highlight of our workday. To make this work sustainable we’ve formed a union and wanted to tell you why.We work very hard at a highly profitable company yet we live in grinding poverty
• The starting wage for a Barista is $7.75/hour in New York City- far below a livable amount. Elsewhere around the country Baristas start at even lower wages
• After six months on the job workers get a raise amounting to some cents, an 11 cent raise is typical
• We have access to a 401(k) and other financial vehicles but almost never have any money left over after paying rent and other necessities to contribute anything into them
•No Baristas are allowed full-time status, so we’re never guaranteed any amount of hours per week making it exceedingly difficult to budget for rent, utilities, and food
• Some employees work enough hours per quarter to qualify for purchasing health insurance through Starbucks but once again many of us don’t have enough money left over to do so.
Our workday is characterized by undue repetitive stress and unsafe conditions-
• We know you detest the long lines at Starbucks, so do we! To save money Management refuses to have enough Baristas on the floor to serve guests without having to work at staggering levels of speed
• Because employees must prepare beverages, operate the cash registers, and so forth at such high speeds, repetitive stress injuries are endemic at Starbucks
• As you know, we are working with very hot drinks sometimes as hot as 200 degrees, it is simply
irresponsible for Starbucks to force Baristas to do this kind of work at unsafe speeds
• Starbucks coffee shops are not ergonomically sound resulting in workers needing to bend, reach, and lift in a manner conducive to musculo-skeletal ailments.
We are now exercising our right to form a union and would appreciate your support
• Baristas are standing strong as the union certification election approaches
• The Union urges Starbucks and Chairman Howard Schultz in the strongest possible terms to refrain from intimidating workers or otherwise attempting to obstruct a fair vote
Your support in this struggle would mean so much to us:
1. Tell the managers at your local store that you support the right of Baristas to organize 2. Contact Chairman Howard Schultz at hschultz@starbucks.com and Starbucks at 800-235-2883 to express your support for the UnionFor more information e-mail starbucksunion@yahoo.com
IWW IU/660-------------The Retail Workers Union