'Twas the strikes before Christmas
Workers from Starbucks and Amazon are fighting back and hitting the capitalists when it hurts: the busy holiday season. Total SOLIDARITY from the Holler to the workers!
From Starbucks Workers United:
Starbucks baristas are going on five days of escalating unfair labor practice (ULP) strikes in response to the company backtracking on our promised path forward, starting tomorrow in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle... and soon, from coast-to-coast.
Since February, Starbucks has repeatedly pledged publicly that they intended to reach contracts by the end of the year - but they’ve yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal.
This week, less than two weeks before their end-of-year deadline, Starbucks proposed no immediate wage increase for union baristas, and a guarantee of only 1.5% wage increases in future years.
Our ULP strikes will begin Friday morning and escalate each day through Christmas Eve... unless Starbucks honors our commitment to work towards a foundational framework.
ALLIES: Support us by signing up for our Solidarity Canvass and join us in hosting an event at not-yet union stores between Dec. 20 and Dec. 24! Your support means everything to us. RSVP and get more info here: SBWU Strike Before Christmas Solidarity Canvass
Starting Friday, Dec. 20, Starbucks Workers United baristas will begin escalating strikes through Christmas Eve beginning in 3 of Starbucks’ most important markets: Seattle, LA, and Chicago.
Baristas are making the brave decision to strike because Starbucks backtracks on the path forward. We’re protesting Starbucks’ failure to bring viable economic proposals to the bargaining table and to resolve hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges.
Striking baristas are asking allies to join us in action by hosting small flyering events at not-yet union stores near them between Friday, Dec. 20 - Tuesday, Dec 24. You only need 1-3 people per event – 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.
Please use this map to find the address of the not-yet union store(s) you’d like to host event(s) at, and enter that information in the form here.
Once you submit your form, you’ll receive an automated email with a how-to toolkit, materials, and an invite to an optional action host training on Saturday at 12pm ET / 9am PT. Please read that email! If you have any questions, reach out to lilly@mvmtcatalyst.org.
From the Teamsters Union:
The Teamsters Union launched Thursday the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history. The nationwide action follows Amazon’s repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with the thousands of Amazon workers who organized with the Teamsters.
Amazon Teamsters at facilities across the country will be striking, including primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide.
“If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “These greedy executives had every chance to show decency and respect for the people who make their obscene profits possible. Instead, they’ve pushed workers to the limit and now they’re paying the price. This strike is on them.”
Workers will join the picket line from DBK4 in New York City; DGT8 in Atlanta; DFX4, DAX5, and DAX8 in Southern California; DCK6 in San Francisco; and DIL7 in Skokie, Ill. Amazon Teamsters at other facilities are prepared to join them.
Teamsters local unions are also putting up primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide. Amazon warehouse workers and drivers without collective bargaining agreements have the legal right to honor these picket lines by withholding their labor.
“What we’re doing is historic,” said Leah Pensler, a warehouse worker at DCK6 in San Francisco. “We are fighting against a vicious union-busting campaign, and we are going to win.”
Amazon is the second-largest corporation on the Fortune 500 list. Despite being worth more than $2 trillion, the company fails to pay its workers enough to make ends meet.
“Amazon is one of the biggest, richest corporations in the world,” said Gabriel Irizarry, a driver at DIL7 in Skokie, Ill. “They talk a big game about taking care of their workers, but when it comes down to it, Amazon does not respect us and our right to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. We can’t even afford to pay our bills.”
Nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have mobilized a movement and joined the Teamsters. They are fighting for higher wages, better benefits, and safer conditions at work.
“I’ve seen the Teamsters win big battles,” said Dia Ortiz, a worker at DBK4 in New York. “We’re ready to do what it takes to win this one.”
Patience has run out for Amazon Teamsters. It’s time for the $2 trillion company to recognize our union and negotiate a Teamsters contract.
Every day, Amazon Teamsters at more facilities nationwide are getting strike ready to win the contract workers deserve at Amazon.
