Urgent Solidarity Appeal - Starbucks Worker Wrongfully Terminated!

http://www.iww.org/en/content/urgent-solidarity-appeal-starbucks-worker-wrongfully-terminated

Posted Thu, 07/21/2011 - 2:02pm by IWW.org Editor


Call and/or text Starbucks Store Manager Rafael Fox @ 860-559-6339. Demand Tiffany White-Thomas' job be reinstated @ the Canal/Broadway Starbucks in NYC. Demand to know why he refuses to promote mothers, discriminates in hiring, and fires union workers. Do not stop.

I'd boycott Starbucks, but it's hard to boycott a place you already refuse to patronize. In fact, I don't even KNOW anyone who buys their overpriced swill. I will write, however.

http://www.iww.org/en/content/iww-starbucks-workers-union-declares-global-week-action-against-starbucks-union-busting-soli

"Over 200 baristas and shift supervisors that work in the 32 Chilean Starbucks locations went on strike on July 7th. They are striking in an effort to have their demands met. Their most crucial demand is earning a higher wage. Currently baristas at Starbucks in Chile make $2.50/hr. while the drinks are still sold for US prices, and they haven’t received raises in 8 years. The baristas are also asking for a lunch stipend in order to eat during their shifts, this is something managers in Chile are provided.

Two weeks, to the day, after the strike began a New York City barista and mother of two young children was fired for announcing her membership in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. The company gave no official reason for her termination but did fire her when she refused to meet with higher ups without her attorney and union representative present, which was a previous agreement between the union and management. Tiffany White-Thomas has worked at the Canal/Broadway Starbucks for over two years. She was up for a promotion when her store manager, Rafael Fox, told her that, being a mother, she would not have the time necessary to dedicate to the company so he would not be promoting her. A letter given to Tiffany’s managers made reference to the collective efforts of the IWW Starbucks Union and the Chilean Strikers. Both unions feel that that this solidarity across borders is seen as a threat to the company and is, in part, what led to Tiffany’s termination."

Starbucks. They rarely hire anyone over the age of thirty.

And since the managers and assistant managers are naturally going to help their friends in thier age groups get jobs there, I don't know how to approach this.

I guess on some level I feel Solidarity, and on some levels I don't.

it depends on the store. I liked hiring older workers because they showed up on time and they did their jobs and I never had to fire any of them for being drunk or hungover at work or bailing on their shift to go party. My first manager when I was hired as a barista was the same way. But yeah, a lot of my peers refused to interview anybody over college age. There was a reason my store was the best in region and won all the awards. :)

Actually, we're forbidden from hiring close friends, SOs or family members...you're encouraged to refer them for hiring in other locations but they generally can't be in the same store as you, can't ever cover shifts in your store and you can't be their recommendation.

I always support organized labor.

Also, I'm sending you a PM, semi-related topic.

call to do something by someone over the etherweb!

For what it is worth, when Omaha Steve puts out a call to action, I trust him.