The IWW Starbucks Workers Union has issued a statement in response to Starbuck’s expression of its corporate values by purchasing a new $45 million jet for CEO Howard Schultz. Starbucks workers recently won a court victory when the company was found guilty of violating labor laws.
"The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is appalled that Starbucks spent $45 million on a new corporate jet so that CEO Howard Schultz could spend the holidays in Hawaii glad-handing sports superstars while baristas and shift supervisors are denied the work hours they need to make ends meet in the midst of an economic crisis. With that $45 million, Starbucks could provide over five million additional work hours to employees in need or maintain its gutted 401k program for three additional years.
Starbucks' new corporate jet only seats 19 passengers. That leaves out tens of thousands of us so-called partners. As a company that claims to treat all of its employees with 'respect and dignity', Starbucks should sell its extravagant jet and use the money to benefit its workers and their families, not just senior executives. Starbucks should start by scaling back painful across-the-board labor cuts and maintaining a transparent 401k matching plan, so that workers know what to expect before they put their money away for decades.
In today's dire economic climate, there is no room for this kind of corporate extravagance. Instead of bearing their share of the burden, Starbucks management has recklessly chosen to further reward their poor performance. As Starbucks wastes much needed funds on unnecessary luxuries, it can expect increased resistance from baristas and shift supervisors seeking job security and sufficient work hours."
The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is an organization comprised of current and former employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for secure work hours, a living wage, and an independent voice on the job. Through direct action, public education, and legal advocacy, the union fights for systemic change at Starbucks and confronts management over unfair treatment of individual employees.
Comments
What do you expect when legal drugs are involved? Any and all can yell as loudly as they want, but no change will be made so long as the lines remain in place at the counter.
Also, Starbucks isn't asking for a federal bailout yet. Until it does, no one will listen, because all eyes are focused on the stock market.
Starbucks will have lay off 10,000 people before anyone gives a hoot. And, even then, many will declare that, because it is theoretically an employee-owner operation, the 10,000 did it to themselves.
That being said, Schultz is and has been a douchebag since I lived in Seattle for all of the 1990's. He would put a Starbucks anywhere if only to knock off a mom and pop store, because he does not accept competition of any sort.
And he burns his beans, always has.
I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Starbucks management over the last few years. Treating employees well was the only justification I ever had for spending $4+ on a cup of java. That rationale no longer exists. I urge independent coffee shops to open up everywhere.
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