London Indymedia

UK National Day of Action for Starbucks Employees- Aug. 18

Worker Freedom | 14.08.2007 11:06 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | London | World


STARBUCKS COFFEE: BAD FOR WORKERS, BAD FOR FARMERS, BAD FOR YOU!



Starbucks exploits its workers and the farmers who grow the coffee beans it uses. Worldwide it has over 12,000 stores and employs over 100,000 people. In Britain , it has over 500 stores employing 5,000 workers.

Starbucks baristas in the UK are barely paid above the minimum wage and are subject to excessive working hours, unpaid overtime; work at a relentless pace, resulting in repetitive strain injuries for many workers. In the US , Starbucks has waged an illegal union-busting campaign resulting in firing of six baristas in New York City .

Coffee growers receive little more than 0.50p for a pound of coffee, which is then sold for £80.

Oxfam launched a campaign against Starbucks in October 2006 after it effectively blocked Ethiopia 's attempts to trademark its coffee beans in the United States .

The tide is turning against Starbucks. In the UK the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is organising the Baristas United Union in several organising campaigns at Starbucks; in the US the IWW-Starbucks Workers Union is expanding across the country; in NZ hundreds of casual fast food workers, including Starbucks baristas organised into the UNITE union; workers are getting organised in France and Germany too.

18 August is a national day of action against Starbucks. The IWW, No Sweat and many organisations and supporters are holding protests in cities right around the UK . We are asking the public not to drink at Starbucks today and to show support for the workers and farmers trying to improve their lives and make a living wage.

Contact us to get involved in the campaign:

Industrial Workers of the World – UK
 rocsec@iww.org.uk
 http://www.iww.org.uk
 http://www.baristasunited.org.uk/
PO Box 1158 Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 4XL

No Sweat
 admin@nosweat.org.uk
 http://www.nosweat.org.uk
PO Box 36707 London SW9 8YA

Worker Freedom

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  1. Moaning Minnie — Minnie
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