Wobbly Coffee

When I go out to a coffee shop I like to go to the Red and Black. It is a local cooperative, the workers become co-owners after a few months probationary trial, and the shop is very anarchist/Wobbly minded.

With that said, Starbucks workers around the world have been trying very hard to unionize and continue to do so. It isn't surprising. This type of movement should be natural. When an employer is making loads of money and treating employees like a commodity, workers should organize. But it didn't pick up steam until recently when the coffee shop chain started to close stores.

Starbucks Goes Union in Minnesota

Baristas at the Mall of America Starbucks walked off the café floor today and delivered a demand letter to management calling for just treatment of all employees affected by Starbucks’ closure of stores nationwide. The surprise job action comes in the wake of the coffee giant’s announcement that it will close 600 stores, including 27 in Minnesota.

I have always encouraged people to not buy Starbucks coffee. It is an inferior product sold by a giant corporation that uses exploitative techniques to maximize profits. If Starbucks were to quit resisting unionization, if they were to instead employ only union baristas and actually endorse the IWW, I would change my stance and start to encourage people to go to Starbucks. I might even consider picking up a part time job.

While we are on the topic of how Starbucks can improve, here is another suggestion. It would also be nice if they allowed their baristas to dress like their old logo. Though I can understand having to wear an apron as a protective measure around hot coffee.