Comments on: Starbucks goes Union http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840 Minneapolis + St. Paul Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:23:37 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: icarrie http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181857 icarrie Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:04 +0000 #comment-181857 If every fast food, coffee serving establishment worker joined a single union, they would have a lot of power - even if they are considered unskilled workers by definition. They could strike at 10pm and by 10am the next morning a country that has gone without its foamy sugar & caffeine specialty drink would be throwing money at them begging for an esspresso injection. <br /> <br /> If they held out until 5pm toddlers in minivan carseats everywhere would be going without their supper time, happy meal and mothers who've had to hear "My fry-fry! My fry-fry!" three hundred times in a row would be directing shrill threats towards their area government official via their cell phone because he hadn't yet settled the strike. <br /> <br /> If every fast food, coffee serving establishment worker joined a single union, they would have a lot of power – even if they are considered unskilled workers by definition. They could strike at 10pm and by 10am the next morning a country that has gone without its foamy sugar & caffeine specialty drink would be throwing money at them begging for an esspresso injection.

If they held out until 5pm toddlers in minivan carseats everywhere would be going without their supper time, happy meal and mothers who’ve had to hear “My fry-fry! My fry-fry!” three hundred times in a row would be directing shrill threats towards their area government official via their cell phone because he hadn’t yet settled the strike.

]]> By: sandburg http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181557 sandburg Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:38:09 +0000 #comment-181557 I was in a union for what was basically fast food work, and we still got shit on by management. I don't feel like unions are effective for that sort of work. I was in a union for what was basically fast food work, and we still got shit on by management. I don’t feel like unions are effective for that sort of work.

]]> By: aliecat http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181474 aliecat Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:22:14 +0000 #comment-181474 This conversation keeps reminding me of "Grosse Pointe Blank."<br /> <br /> Solidarity, babee! This conversation keeps reminding me of “Grosse Pointe Blank.”

Solidarity, babee!

]]> By: rndmcwby http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181472 rndmcwby Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:20:41 +0000 #comment-181472 Scabpacino! Yes! Scabpacino! Yes!

]]> By: Ang http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181456 Ang Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:40:54 +0000 #comment-181456 Baristas with scabs! Yes! Baristas with scabs! Yes!

]]> By: ericam http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181455 ericam Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:36:30 +0000 #comment-181455 Scab baristas! Yes! Scab baristas! Yes!

]]> By: Ang http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181442 Ang Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:53:46 +0000 #comment-181442 <i>they'll learn hard and fast just how replaceable they are.</i><br /> <br /> Especially since 20 some stores just emptied out their already-trained-and-knowledgeable staff. they’ll learn hard and fast just how replaceable they are.

Especially since 20 some stores just emptied out their already-trained-and-knowledgeable staff.

]]> By: octane http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181439 octane Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:47:44 +0000 #comment-181439 There are some coffee pourers in Bloominton who are about to get a lesson in economics that eluded them during their time in the K-12 world.<br /> <br /> The whole notion of unionization and collective bargaining comes from workers banding together to potentially withhold their skill set from management in a labor dispute. Should these children 'withhold their skills' from the company, they'll learn hard and fast just how replaceable they are.<br /> <br /> Guaranteed living wage? For pouring coffee? You aspire to make $8.60/hour for the rest of you life? How will you be able to buy hemp sandals and Che t-shirts on that teenager wage? There are some coffee pourers in Bloominton who are about to get a lesson in economics that eluded them during their time in the K-12 world.

The whole notion of unionization and collective bargaining comes from workers banding together to potentially withhold their skill set from management in a labor dispute. Should these children ‘withhold their skills’ from the company, they’ll learn hard and fast just how replaceable they are.

Guaranteed living wage? For pouring coffee? You aspire to make $8.60/hour for the rest of you life? How will you be able to buy hemp sandals and Che t-shirts on that teenager wage?

]]> By: kwatt http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181411 kwatt Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:13:31 +0000 #comment-181411 That's just all the caffine. Hey-oh, pathetic joke of the day! That’s just all the caffine. Hey-oh, pathetic joke of the day!

]]> By: yoshi http://www.secretsofthecity.com/mnspeak/12840#comment-181407 yoshi Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:22:57 +0000 #comment-181407 I saw this in yesterdays Minnesota business alert and the sad part is I laughed out loud. I mean seriously - the time to do this is when things are good so you are more protected when the economy hits the skids not when Starbucks is closing underperformed stores. And 30 days notice for a position that serves coffee? That's pretty darn good. City Pages left out that this "union" has all of 200 members. I see the coffee serving industry quaking in their boots. I saw this in yesterdays Minnesota business alert and the sad part is I laughed out loud. I mean seriously – the time to do this is when things are good so you are more protected when the economy hits the skids not when Starbucks is closing underperformed stores. And 30 days notice for a position that serves coffee? That’s pretty darn good. City Pages left out that this “union” has all of 200 members. I see the coffee serving industry quaking in their boots.

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