Starbucks escalates war on unions with store closures

The union wave is hitting coffee chains big and small, but the bosses aren't going down without a fight. In June, after workers there voted overwhelmingly to unionize, Starbucks permanently closed the popular College Ave. location in Ithaca, New York, in a suspected act of retaliation, leaving workers in dire financial straits. Then, on July 11, Starbucks announced it would close 16 of its branches over alleged "safety concerns." Workers and organizers have been quick to point out that two of the branches targeted for closure in Seattle also recently unionized, and they allege that Starbucks is breaching US labor laws. Meanwhile, in Louisville, Kentucky, local “progressive” coffee chain Heine Brothers' Coffee has come under fire for its own response to employees’ efforts to unionize, including closing the Douglass Loop location, where some of the most vocal pro-union workers were employed. In an urgent panel discussion, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with worker-organizers from the closed Heine Brothers’ store in Louisville and the closed College Ave. Starbucks in Ithaca: Gami Ray, a barista and worker-organizer with the Heine Brothers’ Workers Union, and Bek, a shift supervisor and worker-organizer with Starbucks Workers United.

Read the transcript of this video:

Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Cameron Granadino

Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and making a small donation:

[cliffroebuck]

Starbucks doesn't want to pay a living wage to their workers but have no problems raising prices to their costumer's for their own profits.

[margaretblair]

Thank you Max for keeping your listeners in the know with how workers are being disrespected by corporations and what can be done to fight back. Enjoyed your reporting on Breaking Points!

[sabre]

The best thing for workers in America is to unionise. That’s how us workers here in Australia got all of our excellent working conditions, well compared to the average worker in America, we don’t have to rely on tips to earn a living wage, we have four weeks paid annual leave per year, paid maternity and paternity leave and been in a union gives you access to legal services and the union also fights for conditions and pay rises on your behalf.

[REDTEK]

Hell yeah, thank you for covering this. Solidarity from Buffalo! It makes me so happy whenever I see people inspired by the union drive here. We are still facing intense union busting from the company here and around the country. Mass closings, firings, everything you can think of. Keep fighting WE WILL WIN!

[andrewthurman]

Leave a comment card at the Starbucks (if you currently frequent one) and say you will only come back if it becomes unionized. And then check to see if any coffee establishment in your area is unionized and check out the coffee.... maybe you will find a great alternative to Starbucks.... there really is a lot of great overlooked non corporate alternatives...

[johnkesich]

Instead of unionizing Starbucks, I'd like to see the creation of a environmentally friendly, socially responsible chain of worker co-op coffee shops to compete with them.
Instead of trying to reign in evil corporations, why not put them out of business?

[notsoancientpelican]

Corporations will spend any amount of money. Money can be made back, but unionization means loss of power and control. The total control of workers is the most essential thing.

[robkitchen]

Closing shop vs successful union shop despite continued profits has been the 1% game plan for decades... It's the blue blood mentality ... They are kings and off with the heads of any disloyal serfs

[gocanada]

I hope they ALL CLOSE, SCREW STARBUCKS

[Albremen]

Thank you for this interview. Thanks to these brave workers for their organizing work. Don't forget that under capitalism you and your labor is just a commodity, and if you don't fight for yourself, they will just take advantage of you as much as they can.

[revolt]

Good close stores. They cant make money with closed stores.

[David_Lloyd-Jones]

A dollar's-worth of coffee in a three-dollar plastic foam cup.

[wnklee]

I hope they close all of them! We do not need overpriced coffee.

[scottmghill]

Part of the push for bringing back unions is WORD OF MOUTH. These people fighting for unions should be selling T-shirts online with a big Starbucks logo with a red circle and line through it and the caption "I Drink Union Coffee"

[Trident]

So the moral of this story is that most businesses would rather shut its doors rather than deal with a union.

[megacide]

Oh! This is nothing.
Wait till Starbucks rolls out fully automated 'Cafe-X' style robotic barista arms in most locations. Once mass automation begins...There's no going back.
Ever.

[desireegerber]

Hell yee! Solidarary my trans and lgbtqia workers! So amazing to see us rising up against corps. I'm so proud of you. Let's show these phobes if they walk out on a worker rally cause pronouns are being respected, they never wanted it that bad in the first place.

[dreamingrightnow]

Excellent discussion. And your audio is like butter.

[LifeBetweenTheDash]

Such amazing workers that care about the companies, treated so harshly.

[xenotbbbeats]

Sounds like retail pharmacy. Just as ruthless.