Howard Schultz, the former CEO of the American coffee chain, had to explain himself to a US Senate committee, even though his company is known to be “progressive”.
“Have you ever threatened, coerced or intimidated an employee who supported the union?” asked Senator Bernie Sanders in particular. “I could have had conversations that could have been misinterpreted, distorting my intentions, it depends on the people with whom I spoke…”, defended Howard Schultz.
A movement initiated by employees
The labor movement began in Buffalo, upstate New York. It shakes a symbol of American capitalism. Ordinary employees, like Victoria Conklin, have created a union that is experiencing unprecedented success in the restaurant world.
“From the outside, Starbucks is perceived as a progressive company that takes care of its employees. But that’s just the facade for the public,” reveals the unionized employee.
“Our store voted to join the union in June 2022. Six days later, they fired me,” she adds.
>> Listen to the development of the 12:30 p.m. of December 10, 2021:
Stores have closed overnight and methods of intimidation regularly deemed illegal are practiced.
“The only thing that interests them is to stop the movement. And the best way to achieve this is fear”, assures Victoria Conklin.
Howard Schulz testifies about the anti-union methods practiced at Starbucks when he was still CEO. [Jacquelyn Martin – Keystone]
Starbucks’ largest shareholder doesn’t want to hear about the union and he assumes it. “We are here to exceed the expectations of our consumers. One hundred million people go to Starbucks. And the consumer experience will be significantly degraded if a third party party is involved in our business,” said Howard Schultz.
Almost 300 unionized cafes
But in two years, nearly 300 Starbucks stores have unionized, or more than 7,000 employees in total.
Strikes to demand better working conditions have multiplied. On March 22, Starbucks workers and union activists gathered outside the company’s headquarters in Seattle.
“The timetable, the daily work, the workforce, the social rights which are deteriorating…The last few years have been horrible and this is the trend in most jobs”, observes Tyler Keeling, also a member of the union.
He is one of the rebel baristas everywhere and goes to the union office in Buffalo while working in California.
To other companies
Richard Bensinger, activist and author, sees these social mobilizations in a good light. He no longer hoped for such a start in the United States.
“Today really feels like the 1930s, in my opinion. You had a generation of young people then rising up in industry and automotive. Now it’s the service sector mobilizing to create a generational movement “, he congratulates himself.
After the rise of trade union movements in the United States, the fight against poor working conditions in the restaurant sector could continue to spread to other companies.
>> Listen to the podcast on the subject:
Podcast – Unions in the United States: Unity is strength again?
Subject TV: Gaspard Kühn
Adaptation web: Julie Marty