What Do Starbucks and Wal-Mart Have in Common?

Posted by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films at 8:31 AM on May 19, 2009.

Exposing Starbucks' atrocious labor practices in our newest campaign, Stop Starbucks.

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Both corporate giants have long track records of harassing their workers when it comes to joining unions. Harassment and intimidation are illegal under Federal law, and we won't stand for it. Tell Howard Schultz, Starbucks' billionaire owner, to respect the people who work for Starbucks. "The regional manager literally told us that we weren't allowed to invite people to union meetings...that's the same kind of violation that you see at Wal-Mart," said Erik Forman, a former Starbucks employee fired for union organizing. Starbucks, like retail giant Wal-Mart, has a well-established history of breaking labor laws. The company has spent millions settling five labor complaints in the past few years alone, and it has fought hard against the Employee Free Choice Act in an attempt to continue intimidating workers hoping to unionize. In 2005, we took on Wal-Mart for their assault on workers with Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Now we are exposing Starbucks' atrocious labor practices in our newest campaign, Stop Starbucks. Watch the video to see Starbucks' blatant disregard for workers' rights.

SPILL THE BEANS ABOUT STARBUCKS:

Sign the memo insisting Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz allow workers to unionize. Help us reach 50,000 signatures before Congress votes on the Employee Free Choice Act. We will deliver the petition to Schultz, sending the clear message that corporations should support this vital legislation.
Send the video to your friends and family and post it on your Facebook page. Starbucks and Schultz's mistreatment of workers must be known.
Spread the word on Digg and make this campaign become more prominent than a Starbucks on every corner.
Tell us your Starbucks story. If you've ever worked at a Starbucks or even purchased a cup of coffee from them, we want to hear about it.

There are over 127,000 baristas in our country alone, many of whom are in dire need of better wages, health benefits, and hours. Shouldn't they have the right to be treated fairly? Sign the memo and tell Schultz to stop his mistreatment of workers.

Tagged as: labor, unions, starbucks, efca, employee free choice

Robert Greenwald is a producer, director and political activist. His new media company, Brave New Films, is currently focused on making short videos like the FOX Attacks (FoxAttacks.com) and The REAL McCain (TheRealMcCain.com), which educate and empower viewers to take action and have been seen by millions.

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Ya know ..there are shades of gray [Report this comment] Posted by: walldodger1969 on May 20, 2009 10:55 AM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] "There are over 127,000 baristas in our country alone, many of whom are in dire need of better wages, health benefits, and hours. Shouldn't they have the right to be treated fairly? Sign the memo and tell Schultz to stop his mistreatment of workers."of all the Corporations to go after....you pick on Starbucks? Please ......give us some facts....Starbucks wages vs another fast food giant wages.....perks for their workers......type of working conditions.....percent of fulltime employees that have health benefits. sorry I don't salivate just because you ring a bell. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Yuppies = rip-off [Report this comment] Posted by: Sekhmetnakt on May 21, 2009 11:36 AM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I have never in my life been a customer at Starbuck, and I never will be. It's a rip-off. When I want coffee I want NORMAL coffee, and I can make that myself at home at a quarter the price. I don't need or want fluffy-bunny yuppy coffee-milkshakes for idiots with money to burn. I don't have money to burn. Nice to see so many others still do have so much extra money to blow on bullshit yet they complain endlessly about the economy! Cry me a river. Garbage like this we do not need. "Friends" was cancled years ago, yet their theme park still hasn't got the messiage! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Working for Starbucks [Report this comment] Posted by: Chandidevi on May 22, 2009 11:16 AM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] My daughter worked for Starbucks in San Francisco. She was working for her Master's Degree in English Literature. My daughter is educated and refined; most of the employees were almost illiterate and tough as nails. She was treated like a servant. She was not hired to wash floors but that's all they had her doing. I realize it is not PC to mention the fact that they were from ElSalvador and Mexico. They treated her like she was garbage. She experienced panic attacks every morning on her way to work on the Bart. Finally, it became unbearable for her to work in such a barbaric environment. She started calling in sick and eventually, they just didn't schedule her for work, without firing her. It's a terrible place to work. They need a union. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Working for Starbucks Posted by: variable Vote w/your Wallet [Report this comment] Posted by: weathered on May 23, 2009 5:34 AM Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] support the local well-made coffee shop. $tarbucks is not your friend. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Conflating Starbucks with Walmart is preposterous [Report this comment] Posted by: variable on May 23, 2009 10:05 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The average Starbucks worker in San Francisco makes over $10/hr and receives benefits. They've had guaranteed sick days, stock options, and matching fund for retirement since the company moved to CA in the early nineties. It has long been THE got to job for young people in their 20s putting themselves through college. Where else can you work part time and get medical benefits while in college. Where? I cannot defend their union busting activities, but the hyperbole about the way they treat their staff makes it impossible to look at the real problems within the company. The fact is that the reason it has been so hard to organize Starbucks workers is that so few of them feel ill used. Painting a portrait of the company as some sort of Walmart gulag only hurts that effort. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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