Starbucks Global Day of Action - Belfast picket
Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast city centre today from 12 to 1 pm. Despite the miserable weather around 12 people joined the picket and leafleted passers by and potential customers outside the coffee shop. At the start of the picket 3 people had gone inside to leaflet customers and staff. There was a very positive response to the picket however one person was falsely accused of assaulting a Starbuck's member of staff after leafleting staff and customers inside.As part of the Global Day of Action against Starbucks called by the AIT/IWA and IWW Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast today (5th July) to demand the reinstatement of Monica, a member of the anarcho-syndicalist member working in their central Seville outlet, and Cole Dorsey, an IWW member who was fired by Starbucks for organising in their Grand Rapids, Michican, shop.
Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast city centre today from 12 to 1 pm. Despite the miserable weather around 12 people joined the picket and leafleted passers by and potential customers outside the coffee shop. At the start of the picket 3 people had gone inside to leaflet customers and staff. There was a very positive response to the picket however one person was falsely accused of assaulting a Starbuck's member of staff after leafleting staff and customers inside.
While Starbucks present themselves as a trendy, ethical corporation when it comes to their own workers they are ruthless union-busters determined to stop their employees organising. Monica was fired on the 24th of April without notice. She had worked in the central Seville branch of Starbucks for a year and a half when her manager suddenly claimed she "created problems with her workmates". She had resistged management when they made people work public holidays without extra pay. She refused to attend work meetings outside working hours where no pay or time in lieu was offered. Her sacking came after she asked about another worker who had ben fired. The store manager had told her on several occassions that she must have nothing to do with unions.
Barely a month later, in Grand Rapids, Michican, USA, Starbucks fired Cole Dorsey on June 6th. Cole had over two years of service and was active in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union.
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Here are the first reports about what is going on in Germany (and Switzerland) during the Global day of Action against Starbucks. Images may as well be found here (https://www.fau.org/artikel/art_080705-070956). Maybe others like to add what is up in their town:
Germany: Aachen:
Six activists picketing Starbucks. Many leaflets handed over to customers and workers and a couple of liters of Zapatista coffee served free of charge to those interested. Serveral baristas showed their sympathy once the team leader did not notice. Lots of interesting discussion with customers.
Germany: Frankfurt/Main
Picketing five Starbucks. Many people listened to the speeches, as three of the Starbucks are located in a heavily crowded areas with lots of street cafes etc. Many people interested and a lot of discussion.
Germany: Hamburg
About a dozen FAUistas took to the street, picketing five Starbucks in the center of the city. Many leaflets handed over and banner mounted.
Germany: Duisburg
More than 15 comrades from three syndicates at the information stall close to the biggest Starbucks at the Königstraße. Several hundred leaflets distributed. People mostly very interested in the matter.
Germany: Darmstadt
Local starbucks picketed by RASH (Red and anarchist skinheads) comrades, some of them FAU sympathizers.
Switzerland: Zug
Members of «Systembruch» have been leafletting workers, customers and people passing by. Good reactions, may be, because people just read about the plans to close 600 Starbucks and 12.000 jobs in the USA
Germany: Braunschweig
The FAU Braunschweig picketed Starbucks at the ECE shopping mall. After 35 minutes security guards forced us to leave the mall. We then distributed our leaflets outside the mall and had some interesting talk with Starbuck baristas there. One of them told us, that he already knew about the Global day of action.
Germany: Düsseldorf
Members of the Düsseldorf and Krefeld FAU locals entered 7 Starbucks in the city center and distributed leaflets.
Germany: Munich
Members of the Munich FAU education syndicate gave flyers to baristas and customers in five Starbucks at central Munich. The reactions of the customers were unanimously positive. There were lots of tourists around that already knew Starbucks from other countries and many people were quite upset about the union busting practise of Starbucks. Most baristas were somewhat anxious as the team leaders have been around. The comrades from Munich say, that this was a very positive experience and that they will repeat it whenever action is needed.
+++ to be continued +++