Hundreds of union activists, a few dressed as coffee cups emblazoned with “hypocrisy” and “cup of sweat,” marched in front of a Starbuck’s coffee shop on Chicago’s fashionable North Michigan Avenue last May. They were protesting the decision by the image-conscious coffee shop chain, whose corporate code of conduct calls for respecting employees, to sign a contract for floor mats and… return to article
-
subscribe to print magazine
-
email this article to a friend
-
Reader Comments (7)Page 1 of 1 pagesTeamsters organizer’s are not in the union and will be fired if they tried. I bet the list list of union supporters is the same, non union organizers. Also the AFL-CIO biggest supporter SEIU. I dare you to track their record of charges filed by employees at the EEOC. Most Labor organization are not the way to go these day. Oh goodness don’t be an africa american in the low wage work force thses day , Why? because unions now are supporting ilegal workers and targeting those low wage black workers jobs for ilegals that they feel won’t changle their racist leadership. why don’t unions organize white colar workers who are losing pensions and healthcare instead of people who need every dime.
Posted by Mr. Decal on Aug 11, 2003 at 10:40 PM Three men I used to work with at the discount department store I work at (not Wal-mart, K-mart, Target) left the company to go work for Cintas. They are all driverds, and all appreciate the work much better then they’re old job. All three of them we’re managers at the store…a store in which managers non-union, salaried workers. At the store, they were only paid for 40 hours of work per week, but sometimes worked more than 60. The store is open 24 hours, so it was not uncommon. The most extreme I had seen, was on of them going in at 10 PM and not leaving till 10 AM. That’s 12 hours of work…4 of which they were not paid for. Since moving to Cintas, they enjoy their work a great deal more. They do work hard, as is expected at such a job…and the 40 hours they are paid for is for the 40 hours they work. They do not work weekends…they have their birthday and all major holidays off. The store in which I work at, and which they used to work at only closes once a year…Christmas.
Posted by Franco Vitella on Aug 12, 2003 at 4:16 AM What an abolutely biased piece of reporting. This is NOT a journalistic article. This is a editorial that borders on being a vendetta. Just another fine example of a liberal “journalist” giving the industry a bad name. As an educated man I am embarrased for the author.
Posted by alan on Aug 15, 2003 at 12:11 PM I Support the Cintas workers in their effort to unionize and to seek better working conditions. If these big corporations had their way we would all go back to the bad old days of the sweatshops of the 20`s and 30`s. As a retired Teamster i understand throughly what a good union contract and decent wages and health care is all about. It appears that Cintas is taking the low road instead of treating their workforce fairly.
Posted by David wheeler on Aug 15, 2003 at 9:04 PM While you are brining up the crimes of starbucks, maybe you could do an article about things they have done closer to home. I don’t know if you remember Lemon Knot Cookies that used to be served there, but they were made by Judy’s Bakery in Evanston IL. THey decided to back out of their contract with judy’s fo the Lemon Knots, Illegally, causing Judy and her bakery to go deep into debt, and now her dream is ruined, and she, her bakery and her husband are out of buisness.
Posted by Mike on Aug 18, 2003 at 2:50 AM Hi, This was a great article keep up the good work, in exposing this kind of slavery in the USA
Posted by christine on Oct 4, 2003 at 5:03 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
register a new account »Posting Security
Also by David Moberg
- Out of Control
Too big to regulate, the banks need to be broken up. - Labor’s New Leader
The AFL-CIO stakes its future on Richard Trumka. - The Retail Devolution
Two new books explore corporate evil. - Who’s Got the Power?
Progressives find themselves outmaneuvered on healthcare reform. - Not Your Parents’ Labor Movement
Why the Republic sit-in failed to inspire other worker actions. - Solidarity Reunited?
Unions rally around shrunken UNITE HERE as it takes on its former ally.
Popular Discussions
- The 9/11 Faith Movement
Many Americans believe 9/11 was a conspiracy by the U.S. government
1979 posts since Jul 11 06 - What’s the 411 on 9/11?
891 posts since Dec 21 05 - Democrats: It’s the War
659 posts since Nov 1 05 - Was the Presidential Election Stolen?
462 posts since Jun 19 06 - A Fundamental History Lesson
The rise of National Socialism proved politics and religion don't mix
427 posts since Oct 10 05
© 2003 In These Times | Reprint Policy | Privacy Policy | Powered by Expression Engine | RSS Feeds
