Starbucks Union Demands Clarification on Store Closures, Initiates Global Action

On July 1 Industrial Workers of the World affiliated Starbucks Workers Union called for the world's largest coffee chain to immediately disclose the locations it intends to close and outline its severance plan. Citing management's "numerous missteps", they added that the company should stop wasting millions of dollars on union busting staff and lawyers.

At a July 5th action in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the National Labor Relations Board continues to investigate Starbucks for unfair labor practices, management monitored a peaceful gathering of activists demonstrating for benefits for employees. Starbucks routinely prohibits full-time status for retail hourly employees, which union members say makes employee participation in a health care plan even lower than Wal-Mart's record.

Starbucks stores in eleven US cities and 19 countries in Europe and Asia participated in the IWW Starbucks sponsored Global Day of Action on July 5th, according to the union website. Germany was the country with the largest turnout, with a record 35 store locations involved.