May 17: Commemorate the 4th Anniversary of the Starbucks Union and Honor Dr. King

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/2011

Submitted by SWU on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 3:16pm.

On May 17, join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union and allies around the
world to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the union's founding in a Day of Action.

2008 is the 40th anniversary of the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., felled by a sniper's bullet as he stood in solidarity with
sanitation workers striking for the right to form a labor union.

As a rabidly anti-union, poverty wage employer, Starbucks represents
the unbridled greed and exploitation that King opposed. Indeed, the Starbucks Corporation demeans Dr. King's legacy by treating his federal holiday like a second-class occasion as it fails to pay the premium it pays on several other holidays on Dr. King's day. If
Starbucks is really interested in "embracing diversity", it can start by
respecting Dr. King's holiday.

Since it’s founding on May 17, 2004, the Industrial Workers of the World
campaign at Starbucks has spread around the country with new workers
joining the campaign every week. Support has poured in from around the
world and important gains in wages and working conditions have been won
through direct action, grassroots pressure, media advocacy, and legal
filings.

A recent Labor Board trial exposed the underbelly of Starbucks' massive
anti-union operation as replete with illegal spying, discrimination,
terminations, and much more. Yet, Starbucks' relentless union busting,
carried out in association with corporate law firm Akin Gump and public
relations firm Edelman, continues on with impunity.

Take action in your community on May 17th to ensure Starbucks stops
disrespecting Dr. King's holiday and stops demeaning his selfless final
act of solidarity with workers seeking to vindicate the right to form a
labor union. A Starbucks Union-MLK flyer is available for download here: http://www.starbucksunion.org/files/MLKM17.pdf

Contact M17 Coordinator Vallan Anundson, at 571.276.1935 or disillpow (at) riseup.net,
to let us know you're participating or for more information.