Starbucks CEO’s message to workers; “if you have faith in me you don’t need a union”

[babylonsister]

Starbucks CEO’s message to workers; “if you have faith in me you don’t need a union”
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February 17, 6:54 AM
by Ron Moore


Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks repeated a common retort in opposition to workers organizing to improve their lives: "I was convinced that under my leadership, employees would come to realize that I would listen to their concerns," Schultz wrote of that time in his book "Pour Your Heart Into It." "If they had faith in me and my motives, they wouldn't need a union."

In a report by Andrea James in the Seattle Post Intelligencer Starbucks is still fighting vigorously to bust unions.

A 1999 attempt to unionize Starbucks roasting-plant workers in Kent led to a two-year struggle for a contract. "They were doing union busting," said John Thompson, current president of International Union of Operating Engineers local 286. "All of the HR department that was hiring, their questions were, 'Have you ever belonged to a union, has any of your family members belonged to a union, or has any of your friends belonged to a union?' If you said yes to you or your family, at any time, you were never even considered for employment."

That bargaining unit dissolved. Thompson said Starbucks was the "worst employer we ever had. They basically did anything and everything in their power to keep the unions out.

more...

http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m2d17-Starbucks-CEOs-message-to-workers-if-you-have-faith-in-me-you-dont-need-a-union

[GodlessBiker]

1. Bwahahahaha! What an idiot.

[Turbineguy]

2. Bad Management causes bad Unions.

[ogneopasno]

3. Unions aren't built because of a lack of faith in a CEO. They're built because of a lack of a decent

wage, working conditions, benefits and rights. What garbage.

[SharonAnn]

16. Any CEO can be changed at any time, or change his/her priorities at any time.

Companies can be bought out, downsized, etc.

Most CEOs won't work without a contract, why should regular workers?

Sorry, but I don't buy his statement.

As Reagan said "Trust but verify", a union contract is the same thing. "Trust, but protect."

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. When you start living at the same level as your lowest paid

employee, they might be willing to listen to you. However, at that point, YOU would be wishing for a union.

[underseasurveyor]

5. And if Howard Schultz motives are not to screw the employees,

Then he has no need to fear a union.

[ogneopasno]

9. Exactly. Well said.

[leftofthedial]

6. My friend just got laid off at Starbucks.

We don' need no steenkeeng junions!

[leftofcool]

7. Hey Howard!!

Sure they trust ya. You're a CEO who makes lots of bucks and pays your employees a pittance so what's not to trust? Now, go get laid or something and leave the folks to do union business.

[Selatius]

8. Howard Schultz serves one purpose, to enrich the shareholders. Most employees are not shareholders.

The goals of employees would likely therefore not necessarily be the same as the goals of the shareholders. Schultz should understand this by now. If he was cunning enough to get the job of CEO, he should be cunning enough to accomodate the workers.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. The Cult Of The Boss.

Don't be fooled. They work for themselves and the share value.

UNION!

[firedupdem]

11. I worked for a company like that. All the handbooks they gave

out even mentioned that they treated the employee's so fairly that a union wasn't needed.

They also provided health care and when I owed $37 bucks to them for my share of the cost of prescriptions my manager called me in about paying it. I thought it was horrible that my manager knew I had an outstanding bill! That was none of his business! I was floored! These companies don't want unions so they can treat you like shit.

[dembotoz]

12. sounds like they need a union

[spanone]

13. isn't that what bernie madoff said to his investors? trust me

[spin]

14. You can always trust your company, they have your best interests in mind..

NOT!

[guitar man]

15. what utter horse shit

The union exists to provide the workers with the best wages, working conditions and benefits they can negotiate and a CONTRACT that guarantees those things. The CEO has a contract, why shouldn't the workers have one also? Faith in a CEO? Pffft...I wouldn't trust one of the bloated bastards as far as I could throw them. I'll take a contract over "faith" any day. All that "faith" in a company has ever gotten me was a sore asshole. :grr:

[JVS]

17. That sounds like a union recruiting slogan

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Sorry Howard, I have no faith in you at all

And I say that as a former Sonics fan, AND someone who believes Starfucks is the WalMart of the coffee industry.