Canadian Starbucks UnStrike for Justice
from the Canadian Auto Workers
UnStriking Starbucks workers want and need your solidarity and
assistance to help "Send Starbucks A Message." On May 13, 2002, 140
Starbucks baristas and shift supervisors at 10 Starbucks outlets in
Vancouver, BC, and members of the Canadian Auto Workers began our CAW
Starbucks UnStrike for Justice and Dignity.
The company has shown itself to be an anti-union employer despite its
veil of social responsibility. It is refusing to bargain on even a
single union proposal and is seeking to effectively eliminate the
seniority provisions we have achieved in the first two collective
agreements. Wage improvements we have achieved in previous agreements
have immediately been given to all non-union stores in B.C. Management
tells workers that the only difference between union and non-union
stores is that union members pay unions dues, misinforming non-union
workers about such union benefits as:
- Seniority as a key factor in scheduling hours of work.
- Guaranteed overtime provisions
- Entitlement to be scheduled for two consecutive days off rather than
split days off;
- Effective grievance procedures.
What the heck is our UnStrike all about?
It is a legal strike method under BC labour law. It is designed to
attack Starbucks corporate image as well as exercise economic pressure
on the world's largest coffee corporation.
During this period our members will continue to work while engaging in
activities at work that would not normally be tolerated by the huge
Starbucks Corporation, such as disregarding corporate dress code,
displaying tattoos and piercings, dramatic hair colors and more.
Members will be handing leaflets to customers as they serve them
asking fair-minded people to "Send Starbucks A Message." Off the job,
our members will be leafleting and using the internet to help spread
our campaign and approaching Starbucks baristas and shift supervisors
at non-union outlets to join the Union and help build a stronger voice
for all Starbucks employees.
Starbucks' purpose is clear: to undermine the union's efforts to
improve the lives of Starbucks employees in order to maintain low
wages and exceptionally high profits.
The CAW's one dozen stores are a beachhead of unionization. With
annual sales projected to break $3 billion, Starbucks has increased
its projected rate of expansion to add at least 1,200 new stores over
the next year - more than 3 new stores every day of every week.
Despite troubles elsewhere in the global economy Starbucks' annual
rate of return is a whopping 31.5 percent!
Send Starbucks A Message
Help send Starbucks a message. Please write Howard Schultz, Starbucks
Chairman and Chief Global Strategist, Starbucks Corporation, 2401 Utah
Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134, or email hschultz@starbucks.com and
tell him you expect Starbucks to bargain honestly for a fair
collective agreement for CAW Starbucks UnStrikers. Please copy our CAW
Starbucks UnStrikers at Starbucks@caw.ca. Our CAW National Union
website
www.caw.ca
has a lot information on our CAW Starbucks UnStrike
for Justice and Dignity. Check it out!
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