Tacoma SDS

This Saturday, February 23rd, fired worker Deon Furtick will be protesting to get his job back along with concerned Harvest Co-op members, and supporters from the Industrial Workers of the World. The picket will be outside a meeting of the Harvest Co-op's board of directors, at the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Harvest board members are having a day long "retreat" to develop "long term objectives and hopes for the board's work and Harvest" (http://www.harvest.coop/board/agenda01_08.pdf).

100% of Starbucks hourly retail workers in the United States (baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors) are part-time with no guaranteed number of work hours per week. Starbucks insures only 40.9% of its workforce whereas notorious health-care cheapskate Wal-Mart insures 47%. Starbucks baristas earn a poverty wage in the range of 6, 7, or 8 dollars an hour depending on their location. Starbucks has been hit with several complaints from the National Labor Relations Board for retaliation and discrimination against baristas who have chosen to join a labor union.

Sample Letter:

Support Starbuck's workers right to organize!
The Tacoma IWW will have an information picketline:

Dec. 8, beginning at 3:30pm at the Starbucks at 6th and Pine and then marching down to the Starbucks at 6th and Sprague.

STARBUCKS WORKERS UNION-IWW

- Increased pay and raises
- Guaranteed hours with the option of fulltime status
- An end to understaffing
- A healthier and safer workplace

www.starbucksunion.org

Claims of “union busting” are [dragging down Starbucks’] good name. Starbucks finds itself in an unenviable position: being compared to Wal-Mart in its treatment of workers. How does a perennial leader on corporate social responsibility respond? Starbucks seems to be at a loss for an effective answer to accusations it is a “union buster”.

Christina Rosevear, a Starbucks Barista and IWW member, is in extreme distress and needs your help. Although she is over 8 months pregnant, Christina is being forced back to work on Monday, September 3rd. If she does not return, she will lose her job and her health benefits. Starbucks will not extend Christina's pregnancy leave and she is due in just weeks. For the sake of Christina and her family please do twothings:

1) Participate in the e-mail action to Starbucks at http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/1866