Starbucks workers add shot of unionizing

[greatauntoftriplets]

Starbucks workers add shot of unionizing
Historic local group works with baristas

By Ron Grossman
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 4, 2006

In the city of its birth, and 101 years later, the Industrial Workers of the World is still trying to strike a blow for the working class.

Just ahead of Labor Day, baristas at the Starbucks in Logan Square told management that they wanted to be represented by the IWW. A veteran of battles that once made the union movement a major force in American life, the IWW has been largely moribund recently.

Starbucks' management was ready for the faceoff, which occurred during a periodic meeting of employees and managers at the giant coffee merchant's store at 2759 W. Logan Blvd., some workers reported. Corporate honchos would not accept employee demands and handed out copies of the preamble to the IWW's constitution in an effort to discredit the union.

"We thanked them for saving us the printing costs," said Joe Tessone, 21, a barista and IWW organizer.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0609040092sep04,1,2047441.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

The Wobblies take on Starbucks... I LOVE it! :D

[blondeatlast]

1. Union, YES!

Go, Wobblies!

Too bad I don't drink coffee.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. I don't drink coffee, either....

but you'd think that, considering the prices I've heard that Starbucks charges and the sheer volume of overpriced coffee that they sell, they'd be able to pay their baristas $10 an hour.

Thanks for kicking. I thought this was a great Labor Day story.

[blondeatlast]

2. Coffee, unions, and a

:kick:

Good way to start the morning!

[mdmc]

4. good way to start the day

:kick:

[Deep13]

5. Union Maid, Woody Guthrie

There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come 'round
She always stood her ground.

Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union 'til the day I die.

This union maid was wise to the tricks of company spies,
She couldn't be fooled by a company stool, she'd always organize the guys.
She always got her way when she struck for better pay.
She'd show her card to the National Guard
And this is what she'd say

You gals who want to be free, just take a tip from me;
Get you a man who's a union man and join the ladies' auxiliary.
Married life ain't hard when you got a union card,
A union man has a happy life when he's got a union wife.