Fresh Foods Supermarkets

Running head: The Union Baristas at Starbucks

IWW vs. Starbucks

The Union Baristas at Starbucks

According to recent studies, Starbucks was ranked near the top of Fortune 100 Best Companies to work for in 2008. The first Starbuck was open in Seattle, WA in the year of 1971. From just a narrow storefront, Starbucks offered some of the world’s finest fresh roasted whole bean coffees (Starbucks, 2012). Starbucks motto is that every day, we go to work hoping to do two things: share great coffee with our friends and help make the world a little better place to live. From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of organization, one that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but also brought a feeling of connection (Starbucks). Starbucks mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. As of today, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world (Starbuck).

Daniel Gross, a former Starbucks employee and volunteer organizer for the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), complains that Starbucks is not as socially responsible as management would like the world to believe, especially when it comes to treatment of employees. The union has repeatedly pursued to pressure Starbucks, demonstrating outside shops and handing petitions to management demanding improvements in working conditions (Noe, 2009). Starbucks asserted that the terminated employees were let go for legitimate reasons, including insubordination, disrespectful conduct, using profane language and poor work performance. According to Businessweek magazine article, Mr. Gross, Joe Agins Jr. and Isis Saenz, were fired because of their pro-union activities. Mistakes by management at Starbucks including over expansion and lack of value on the menu have resulted in serious hardships for baristas. Starbucks workers are facing tremendous layoffs and employees who manage to avoid losing their jobs are...