MAY 19, 2023 UNIONS GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 Fired organizer reinstated May 15 — What's next for Huron Valley Coalition of Starbucks Workers United? In the “Washington Post” article published March 29, “Sanders grills former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in Senate hearing,” it said, “Howard Schultz denies being involved in unlawful acts to discourage employees from unionizing at Senate committee meetings.” According to the article, Bernie Sanders kept the pressure throughout the hearing. It was an exchange of accusation and denial between Sanders and Schultz, respectively. Schultz, now former CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company — who stepped down because he was forced to testify or be subpoenaed — described Starbucks as a liberal, forward-thinking company. However, the National Labor Relations Board has issued 83 legal complaints against the company in response to 513 complaints of unfair labor practices. The article concluded with Sanders' ideas of the company’s negative impact on Starbucks’ employees to unionize. Schultz and those in top positions at Starbucks don’t want employees to unionize because they assume it will hurt their bottom line. Even though Schultz denies unlawful behavior and wrongdoing, the NLRB and many on the committee constantly accused Starbucks of illegal and intimidating practices. Two of Starbucks' union members testified during the hearing on March 29. One was fired because he led a union drive in Atlanta, Ga. His testimony described their work conditions for the past 18 months and the conditions that led to the union drive in the first place. Starbucks employees report similar unfair labor practices in the local district. Hannah Whitbeck and Victoria Provencio, employees of downtown Starbucks locations here in Ann Arbor, are both card-holding members of Starbucks Workers United, whose local nickname is “A2SBWU.” Whitbeck was fired in April 2022 for reasons she can only attribute to organizing her union drive. The firing was deemed illegal in a court case against Starbucks on October 8, 2022. Starbucks was ordered to reinstate Whitbeck with back-pay, but it took a second injunction on February 18, 2023 to move past Starbucks' appeal. Whitbeck returned to Main and Liberty Starbucks on May 15 after more than a year of escalating pressure, long court hearings and Starbucks' red tape. Although Provencio was never removed as an employee, she experienced a different kind of union-busting once the State and Liberty store certiMIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 “What’s next for A2SBWU?” “There have been lots of management changes, at both the store and corporate level. So far, the new CEO has worked in stores alongside baristas to see what's going on. It's a good first step. Right now, we’re re-forming organizing committees to combat the high turnover of the store," said Provencio. "I'm excited to be back at my store, fied their union in June 2022. “Starbucks withheld benefits — relaxation of the uniform rules and wage raises — from the stores that had unionized; they acted like when we certified we immediately had a contract that was set in stone,” Provencio explained. “Starbucks was court-ordered to give back-pay from that summer when they discriminated against unionized stores, but we still haven’t received that money. It might take years to process.” Among all 298 unionized stories across the country, Starbucks has only had 85 bargaining talks with Workers United since October 2022. The talks have stalled over strong disagreements and technology controversy. In Ann Arbor, individual stores have only been able to get the company to meet them at the bargaining table once. “There was one bargaining session in October of last year. From Starbucks' end, they were concerned about video recordings. They didn’t want anyone joining on a video call because they were afraid of being recorded,” said Provencio. “Starbucks lawyers walked out in less than a minute.” Nationwide, stores went on strike over this issue on “Red Cup Day,” Starbucks’ annual holiday launch of seasonal flavors such as Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Chestnut Praline and Peppermint Mocha. This historically top-grossing day in late November 2022 never happened for Main and Liberty Starbucks because of the workers’ strike; State and Liberty workers held a walk-out in the afternoon that same day. During winter of this year, the workers struck again in an attempt to get Starbucks corporate to the bargaining table. They called this nationwide three-day strike “Double Down Day.” “Again, the manager acted like nothing happened. We got no response from the corporate. No retaliation, either though,” recalled Provencio. Now, approaching summer and the one year anniversary of union certification, I asked Provencio and Whitbeck, and to actually get to sit at the bargainning table this time. We aren't asking for much. We want our rights acknowledged. When we start to negogiate, we expect them to bargain in good faith," added Whitbeck. Just because A2SBWU has not been active online doesn’t mean they aren’t active on the shop floor. Provencio suggests following @SBWorkersUnited on Twitter as a great way to get immediate updates on strikes and calls to action around the country. To support the union efforts in between local strikes and actions, Provencio asks customers to let management know that they support the union and champion union demands every chance they can — in their mobile order names, customer experience reviews and store reviews online. Amanda, an employee at Main and Liberty Starbucks, pictured with organizer Matthew Kain during the Red Cup Day strike last November.
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