Following complaint of IWW* Labor Board Charges Starbucks with Multiple ULPs

Fire Your BossNew York - The National Labor Relations Board has
issued a complaint against Starbucks alleging that the company has
been, "interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the
exercise of the rights guaranteed [by federal labor law]." The NLRB
further alleges that Starbucks has been unlawfully discriminating
against pro-union employees to discourage unionization. The
complaint comes as a result of a well-documented unfair labor
practice charge filed by the Starbucks Workers Union (IWW I.U. 660).
New York - The National Labor Relations Board has issued a
complaint against Starbucks alleging that the company has been,
"interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise
of the rights guaranteed [by federal labor law]." The NLRB further
alleges that Starbucks has been unlawfully discriminating against
pro-union employees to discourage unionization. The complaint
comes as a result of a well-documented unfair labor practice charge
filed by the Starbucks Workers Union (IWW I.U. 660).

"The Board correctly concluded that Starbucks' vigorous anti-union
bias includes widespread unlawful activity," said the Union's
attorney, Stuart Lichten of Kennedy, Schwartz, and Cure.

"Chairman Howard Schultz tells the world that Starbucks respects its
employees but in fact the company systematically violates workers'
rights," added Daniel Gross, a Starbucks worker and IWW member.

According to the government complaint, seven Starbucks officials
have broken the law in the course of the union-busting campaign. In
a clear sign that Starbucks has a corporate-wide anti-union policy,
the complaints names Starbucks Senior Vice President Martin
Annesse, the executive in charge of the company's vast Northeast
operations, as one of those who engaged in anti-union intimidation.
Also named are: Alex Perez, Regional Director of Operations; Vito
Bozzi, District Manager; Candace Nunnally, District Manager;
Fabian Vera, Store Manager; Samuel Jones, Assistant Store
Manager; and Julian Warner, Assistant Store Manager.

"This is obviously not a case of a few bad apples," stated Anthony
Polanco, a Union employee at Starbucks. "Starbucks Coffee
Company is rotten to its core."

The NLRB complaint includes the following allegations; Starbucks:

* Created an impression of surveillance among employees to deter
them from supporting the Union.
* Threatened employees with loss of wages and benefits if they
supported the Union.
* Interrogated employees about their support for the Union.
* Promised to promote pro-Union employees if they agreed to
withdraw their support for the Union.
* Discriminatorily refused to allow employees to wear pro-Union
buttons.
* Provided baseball tickets and gym passes among other things in
order to convince employees to withdraw support for the Union.

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union calls on the company to cease
its fierce anti-union activities and enter into a neutrality agreement.
Starbucks should implement a zero-tolerance policy for violating the
rights of café workers, roasting plant employees, or coffee farmers. In
that light, the Union demands that Starbucks terminate the
wrongdoers including Senior Vice President Martin Annesse.

Industrial Workers of the World I.U. 660 is the union for retail
workers.