Workers Unite
Hot from the NewsDesk
RED FOR BREAD
December 10 through 15 2024
A 1-week Campaign
by
Starbucks Workers United
• • •
Here's the Narrative
from Back in the Day
• • •
Baristas & Allies
Show Starbucks
The Customers Count
Union Victories
At the Bargaining Table
Encourage More Action
Fayetteville, Arkansas | 9 December 2024
A red-hot message calling for action arrives at our cyberdesk today. We couldn't wait to tell about it.
The awesome activist LilLy Daigle,
a prominent champion
of Starbucks Workers United,
writes about this week's
Red for Bread campaign
— a nationwide push for Unions at the coffeehouse.
Lilly's call to action caught the attention of Benton County, Arkansas, activist Will C.
&
the way we see it,
it's all good.
To help baristas win a union
&
make better their economic prospects
becomes an immediate civic passion
for Mr. C.'s freshly formed coalition —
Bite-Back,
“intersectional
anti-capitalist
& anti-colonialist.”
As Lilly writes in the PS of her message:
“ If you have an influx of new members since the election, this could be a great way to activate and engage them in a critical labor fight! ”
Starbucks Workers United
already knows how to win
in this fierce, demanding contest
— oft rude and alway’ adversarial —
because they do win.
0
union people power
dedicated to peaceful activism
versus
corporate ruthlessness,
agents of the monied class
aligned against workers
///one at the Corporate Tower
with quick cash
& a cadre of union busters
The Other at the coffeehouse,
seeking just & equitable earnings
for labors performed
— Yes, baristas at Starbucks.
Lilly Daigle writes:
“ Over the past 8 months, Starbucks Workers United has been hard at work negotiating our framework agreement, which will be the basis for union contracts at all of our 520+ stores. Thanks to the power that workers have built, we continue to get some solid wins under our belt at the bargaining table.
“ We've got TA's that — among other things — provide significant policies against discrimination, guarantee union leave, and codify just cause, which means the company must have a just and fair reason when disciplining any barista covered by our future union contracts. ”
Perception Matters
When Customers Act
“ Our December bargaining with the company will be the most critical negotiations yet. And as we head toward the end of the year, we need to ensure we've left nothing on the table in our contract negotiations — that's where you come in.
“ We know the company cares a lot about the perception that customers and allies like you have of them, which makes the canvassing events you've been hosting so impactful. We've seen time and time again that when customers make noise, the company moves at the table.
“ It's important we have a large show of solidarity — both from baristas and from allies like you — to show the company just how much public support we have behind us. That's why we're asking workers and allies across the country to host these canvassing events at as many not-yet union stores as possible. ”
Allies! Baristas!
Make Some Good Noise
“ We need you to make some noise with us in December. Can you join workers in action and host another flyering event between December 10-15 at a not-yet union Starbucks near you?
“ Allies will be joining hundreds of union baristas across the country in hosting these actions. For this round of events, we will not be posting them on a public map so the company will not be able to prepare for when and where we'll be. ”
“ The events themselves are simple:
all you need is 2-3 people per event.
Q “ So, if your group typically turns out more, we'd love for you to volunteer to cover multiple stores to increase the amount of locations we're able to cover.
“ We'll ask folks to engage not-yet union workers inside the store about the union's wins at the bargaining table, and spend time talking to customers about how they can support the workers.
“ We need your help in order to pull this off. Can you host one (or more!) canvassing events between Dec 10-15? ”
E D I T O R ' S N O T E :
To register your event
contact Lilly Daigle via email
» » » lilly@mvmtcatalyst.org
Lilly concludes December's Starbucks Workers United call to action with these encouraging words:
“ As always, we'll provide a toolkit, link to flyers, scripts, and training to set you up for success. You will receive all of those in an automated email once you register your event(s).
“ Please let me know if you have any questions. Together, we will win! ”
— Lilly —
RSo, the midnight hour passes here at the rocky western edge of the Ozark Highlands. Our urgent task drives us forward. Weary though it be, the message on behalf of baristas at Starbucks, the message linked to the Struggle for Social Justice — the message must be sent into the wilds of the World Wide Web in hopes it may be seen by an activist or two.
TWe've more we'd like to write tonight, but good sense sends us hurtling toward the Big Bed. We shall revisit on the morrow with corrections and additions in the eternal quest for sensible, understandable, relevant communication.
jAnd to you, Mr. C. » » »
The Other OZ wouldn't be surprised that when you read our narrative, you'll allow us to print your full name. In treacherous times in USA, we here at the NewsDesk play it safe with another's identity ’ — till they tell us otherwise.
Nitey nite
&
Love Forever,
Ebenezer Baldwin Bowles
In Solidarity
The Other OZ Stands
We invite you to The Other OZ landing page on the World Wide Web.
Woven throughout & ending with The Hand Of Glory is the ever-changing draft of a Manifesto for Universal Justice
& also
text and graphics about Social Justice issues, activists, and coalitions.
As forever, we are a work in progress. Here is the hyperlink: