Welcome to Solidarity Saturday, your weekly highlight reel and your shortcut to staying plugged in.
First things first: no matter what you hear from anyone, don't buy Starbucks, delete the app, and don't cave to the Spring menu. Tell everyone you know. Baristas are demanding fair pay, hours, staffing, and protections and Starbucks could make it happen for less than one day's sales. Keep pushing! See the full breakdown here. And take a scroll for good news and receipts.
Here's this week's brew:
Baristas Are Taking Action. Watch This.
This week, baristas at stores across the country made it clear: we're ready to move forward, and our demands for fair pay, hours, scheduling, and protections are nothing but reasonable. Watch the actions here. LOUDER for everyone in the back: No Contract, No Coffee. Don't buy Starbucks. Delete the app.
$30/Hour? Don't Believe the Hype.
Starbucks wants you to think their workers are thriving. The reality? The median Starbucks worker makes about $14,500 a year and those "world class" benefits are tied to hour minimums many baristas can't reach because of inadequate scheduling. A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies puts Starbucks on the "Low-Wage 20" list. CEO Brian Niccol made 6,666 times more than the median barista last year. The math isn't mathing. Read the article.
ICYMI: $2,300. That's What a Union Does.
Sam, a 4-year partner in Seattle, saw their hours cut and fought back. Because their store had a union, Sam won a $2,300 settlement directly from Starbucks. In a union, you have real protections and real mechanisms to stand up against unfair discipline, discrimination, and more. We have each other's backs. If you're a Starbucks partner, reach out and we'll connect you with a local organizer.
Corporations don't protect us, we protect each other. Congratulations to partners across Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Arkansas, Ohio, Virginia, Montana, New York, Indiana, Colorado, and Vermont who just won their union elections!
There's a reason Starbucks workers are organizing the fastest growing union in modern history. In moments like these, sticking together has never mattered more.
The contract won't win itself. With all of us pushing, Starbucks doesn't stand a chance.
In solidarity,
Starbucks Workers United