GR Starbucks employee firing triggers global protests

they think their paychecks are small now...wait until they have a large chunk taken out for union dues.

Grow up!!! You work at Star Bucks for goodness sake.

It's the National Labor Relations Board, and firing an employee who is engaging in organized labor activity is a violation of federal law. Shame on Starbucks. No wonder the coffee tastes so bitter there. A hefty fine, in the billions, would be nice to see.

Unions are a thing of the past. They were created to protect the lives of factory workers back in the 1800's. They have been blown way out of proportion and are no longer necessary. I am 100% positive that this man is not fighting against Starbucks because his life is in danger.

khillard wrote:

This is about as stupid as stupid is. If you cannot take the heat, get out of the frying pan. If you know your company disagrees with union activity and you continue this pursuit, you should be prepared to take the heat, whether this means a firing from the job or what. There are many others who are unemployed that would like to take that persons place without being involved with union activity.

Except that, supposedly, it's illegal to fire an employee for trying to establish a union. Bets are they didn't use that as the reason for firing the employee.

Unions have run their course here. They only serve one purpose: To protect the wages and benefits of the lazy and disgruntled

TDJensen wrote:

Well, if you think their coffee is expensinve now, wait till a union steps in! "Anybody got change for a fifty?" Besides, I didn't think Starbucks was considered a 'make a decent living' level job? What would a union represent with basically part-time workers? Most of them wouldn't stay long enough to get into the union, anyway.

I have been parttime at Meijers for 30 years!!! 5 weeks vacation, 8 personal days $16,40 an hour!!! Why you ask!!! UNION LOCAL 951

Susan, I am also a union member so this is hard, but...... Meijer customer service is very,very poor. Family Fare blows you away, but their prices are way too high. We actually shop @ Wal-Mart. Pains me to say that, yes. Customer service far superior to Meijer. Don't know if that is all the union's fault or poor management or a mix. Wal-Mart prices really are much better & the help is usually more friendly & competent. Unions do serve some useful purposes, but they need to see the new global realities. My union included. Many of the younger teachers resent it & I can see why they would. As an old dawg I see that it has given us some good bennies, but as of late I am hard pressed to see much good coming from it. I pay $850/yr to belong, too. Almost 2 house payments for us. Lot of cash.

Unions always say they are great, but they are hurting our economy just as much as anything else.

Driven wrote:

Kudos to Starbucks for being proactive in keeping their business union-free. Unions are destroying the American business and it's great that people are finally realizing that and putting a stop to them. If you don't like what you make or what your benefits are, find a job elsewhere.

That's easy for you to say. It's not easy to find a decent paying job anymore. It is hard to support a family on anything less than $35k. Unfortunately, all the good paying jobs have gone overseas because of greedy corporations. I'd like to see a business owner or a CEO make $35k a year and support a family. Let's see how you do it. I don't think you'd like to switch with me, that is for sure. I am a hard-working citizen and deserve to lead a decent life. I am pro-union. They are there for a reason!

Jennifer wrote:

<quoted text>
That's easy for you to say. It's not easy to find a decent paying job anymore. It is hard to support a family on anything less than $35k. Unfortunately, all the good paying jobs have gone overseas because of greedy corporations. I'd like to see a business owner or a CEO make $35k a year and support a family. Let's see how you do it. I don't think you'd like to switch with me, that is for sure. I am a hard-working citizen and deserve to lead a decent life. I am pro-union. They are there for a reason!

Are you suggesting someone working at Starbucks should make 35k to make a latte?

screw your union and get a job you greedy loser.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch...

This is funny!!!

I worked for Starbucks briefly last year..they really suck to work for. They end up doing exactly opposite what they say they are trying to accomplish...and they pay poorly...really bad!

susan wrote:

<quoted text> I have been parttime at Meijers for 30 years!!! 5 weeks vacation, 8 personal days $16,40 an hour!!! Why you ask!!! UNION LOCAL 951

They pay monkies $16 to stock shelves and show disdain when I ask for assistance? Who knew?

Jill wrote:

People should get their information right before posting erroneous information. Starbucks does NOT pay minimum wage. They pay above, in addition to tips which usually range between one and 3 dollars on the hour and They offer health insurance for part time employees, which is incredibly rare. Baristas at starbucks arent loaded by any means, but a 'decent' living can be made.

Which means Starbucks is taking care of their employees and the employees do not need a union. Unions protect workers from losing their jobs based on seniority not on quality of work. This barista is probably a crappy employee who knew his time was limited if he didn't have a union to cover his lazy butt.

With globalization, unions are needed more than ever in america. Unions protect workers from unfair treatment, unfair forced overtime, short-staffing, favoritism, unfair wages, etc.

Any business that has a union also has a history of mistreating workers.

Unions also protect those who have been wrongfully fired. If an "at-will" worker's rights are violated, they face a terrible uphill battle in obtaining justice. A fired "at-will" worker almost always does not have the financial means to take on a big business in a court of law.

Unions are responsible for creating the middle class, and the loss of union jobs is why the middle class is disappearing. Being anti-union means being anti-american.

Ron wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you suggesting someone working at Starbucks should make 35k to make a latte?

Not exactly. I just feel that wages as a whole are not keeping up with inflation. People are underpaid in this country. I think that the minimum wage should at least be $10 per hour. I'm not sure what the wages are at Starbucks but I can probably guess that they don't get paid a whole lot above minimum wage.

whoop-dee-do! there are plenty of people out there who would be glad to have a job.
unions are for whiny, spoiled brats. "i can't make it on $15.00 an hour." good give the job to someone who really needs it.

Jennifer wrote:

<quoted text>
That's easy for you to say. It's not easy to find a decent paying job anymore. It is hard to support a family on anything less than $35k. Unfortunately, all the good paying jobs have gone overseas because of greedy corporations. I'd like to see a business owner or a CEO make $35k a year and support a family. Let's see how you do it. I don't think you'd like to switch with me, that is for sure. I am a hard-working citizen and deserve to lead a decent life. I am pro-union. They are there for a reason!

They did not go overseas because of greedy corporations. They went overseas because of greedy unions who striked themselves right out of a job. A business is in business for one reason to make money. If the unions demand so much that the profit is not there the companies will leave. Simple math.