Starbucks picket: Whitechapel branch, 26 May @ noon

[Chz]

Hmm... I'd like to see some 1st person reporting on this. Everything I've seen on it so far indicates it's total bullshit.

I'm not saying I have sympathy for Starbucks (since I don't like their coffee), but they're known to be one of the US's *better* employers and I want more than internet hearsay to pick on them in preference to the (at least) 100 or so companies that deserve my rage more.

Links? Something? I'm begging to blow a fuse here, but I need more to go on.

 

[the button]

Here's a link for the US stuff: -

http://www.starbucksunion.org/

And their sister organisation in the UK: -

http://www.baristasunited.org.uk/

 

[PacificOcean]

Here's a link for the US stuff: -

http://www.starbucksunion.org/

And their sister organisation in the UK: -

http://www.baristasunited.org.uk/

And do local cafes and independant coffee shops have unionised workers and do they have much better conditions and much better pay than the chains?

 

[the button]

Maybe, maybe not. This is why the IWW in the UK is looking beyond Starbucks to organise coffee shop workers.

I'm certainly not hung up on Starbucks as being particularly bad, or as a symbol of global capital or owt. But every organising drive has to start somewhere.

 

[PacificOcean]

Maybe, maybe not. This is why the IWW in the UK is looking beyond Starbucks to organise coffee shop workers.

I'm certainly not hung up on Starbucks as being particularly bad, or as a symbol of global capital or owt. But every organising drive has to start somewhere.

Fair do's

 

[the button]

This continues apace.

We've another picket booked for 12 noon tomorrow, Saturday 29th June. We're covering the 2 Starbucks on the South Bank, starting with the one that's closest to Waterloo, and working our way down.

Stop & say hi if you're passing, or alternatively (if it's pissing down) pause for a silent chortle to yourself as you go about your business in the dry & the warm.

 

[Citizen66]

I'll give you a knowing nod of recognition from yonder side of the glass as I sip my cream-topped latte

 

[the button]

I'll give you a knowing nod of recognition from yonder side of the glass as I sip my cream-topped latte

That's the spirit.

 

[Citizen66]

That's the spirit.

The spirits are in the pub over the road

 

[the button]

The spirits are in the pub over the road

I'll certainly be nipping in there after for a sit down, a pint and a (legal) indoor cigarette.

 

[Chz]

What's bizarre is that Starbucks was just rated one of the top 10 places to work in the UK. But I'll assume that's for those employees above peon level.

 

[PacificOcean]

What's bizarre is that Starbucks was just rated one of the top 10 places to work in the UK. But I'll assume that's for those employees above peon level.

Shhhhhh.

Starbucks are evil

 

[Radar]

What's bizarre is that Starbucks was just rated one of the top 10 places to work in the UK. But I'll assume that's for those employees above peon level.

Dunno about that... I know a lad who used to work for them PT, he was doing it while he was in college. He said the work was easy, that his boss was pretty reasonable and that they could have a bit of crack with the other workers.

Unfortunately they were only pretty reasonable until said geezer wanted time off for exams. Then they started the heavy stuff, he told em to go screw themselves and got a job with Borders in the same building

I saw the same sort of thing with McDonalds myself, when I worked for them in the mid eighties. Everything is one big happy family, until they get pissed off. Then the gloves come off and they'll say and do anything to get their own way, ultimately they simply sack you. The big blood letting at our store was when one of the trainers tried to measure support for unionising The guy was shitcanned within a couple of days

So yes, I suspect its a nice and fluffy place to work, as long as what you want out of it coincides with what Starbucks plc want.

 

[Citizen66]

Everything is one big happy family, until they get pissed off. Then the gloves come off and they'll say and do anything to get their own way.

Much like message boards