An Injury to One is an Injury to All: Rochester Wobblies Picket against Starbucks’ Union Busting on Global Day of Action

On July 5, the Rochester branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) participated in an international day of solidarity against the union busting practices of Starbucks Coffee Company. Approximate 15 members of the union local showed up to distribute flyers, talk to customers, pedestrians, and workers, waved union flags, sang, danced to music, and picketed in the spirit of worker solidarity. Members handed out nearly 200 pieces of information to interested parties.

The global day of action was announced by the Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT-AIT) in Sevilla, Spain and the Grand Rapids, Michigan Starbucks Workers Union (IWW) in response to two recent anti-union terminations. Starbucks has exhibited a pattern of firing outspoken, union baristas ever since the advent of the Starbucks Workers Union in 2004, and evidently, is initiating the same strategy against the CNT in Spain.

“On April 24, Starbucks fired Monica in Sevilla, Spain for her activity on behalf of the CNT union. She asked to be identified by only her first name to avoid future employment discrimination. On June 6, Starbucks fired two-year barista Cole Dorsey in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for his activity on behalf of the Industrial Workers of the World union. These firings come in the midst of Unfair Labor Practice charges being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board against Starbucks in Grand Rapids, including whether Starbucks violated a previous Labor Board settlement there,” states the Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union (IWW) blog page.

Demonstrations against the multinational coffee giant took place in cities across the U.S. (Philly, Grand Rapids), Europe (Moscow, Wroclaw, Poland, Germany, Belfast, Ireland, Vienna, Austria), Australia (Melbourne), and Latin America.

The Grand Rapids local IWW branch is asking that people contact the Regional Director of Operations Dennis Hodson (216-533-6932) or the Starbucks Customer Relations line (800-235-2883) and demand the reinstatement of Cole Dorsey in Grand Rapids. You can also email info@starbucks.com or CEO of Starbucks Howard Schultz at hschutz@starbucks.com. The Rochester local is also asking people to consider buying their coffee at local, independent coffee houses such as Muddy Waters Coffee House, Abundance Food Market, Spin Café, and the Coffee Connection—all of which are within a two mile radius of the Starbucks located at 680 Monroe Avenue and all of which sell fair-trade coffee.

Three police cars arrived to see what was going on after a call from the store manager. After talking to us and the management, the police left and didn’t return.

Additional Information: IWW Starbucks Workers Union | Grand Rapids Starbucks Union (IWW) | Sección Sindical en Starbucks. CNT-AIT | Industrial Workers of the World | Starbucks Union Statement on Closure of 600 Stores