NorthStar Center's Saturday Focus: Starbucks' Union Busting

The NorthStar Center in Lansing, Michigan continues its impressive programming schedule tomorrow, Saturday, February 21, by hosting two union organizers from the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) who have experienced direct retribution from supposedly-progressive Starbucks Coffee Company, which continues to have its union-busting activities exposed.  

Cole Dorsey of Grand Rapids and and Erik Forman from Minnesota will be speaking at the NorthStar Center, 106 Lathrup Street, in Lansing, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2009.  Both will be discussing Starbucks' anti-union tactics and the on-going legal battles between the company and the I.W.W. in the U.S. and across the globe.

Dorsey is the barista that was fired for his union organizing activities in East Grand Rapids, Michigan.  It's a fascinating story.  I interviewed him last year and video is presented below.  It will be very interesting tomorrow when Dorsey provides an update on his case against Starbucks.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

RTR's 2008 Interview with Cole Dorsey

Grand Rapids Union Organizer Fired by Starbucks

     

SBUX REDUX: Voices from the Global Day of Action Against Starbucks

It was two weeks ago that the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) conducted a global day of action against the Starbucks Corporation. There are clear indications that the Starbucks "progressive" image does not match its actions toward its employees and its employees' labor rights. Locally, Cole Dorsey, a Starbucks barista and union organizer, was fired by the one of the company's Grand Rapids stores. This was not an isolated incident as similar firings of union organizers by Starbucks have occurred around the globe. A "global day of action" was called for July 5, 2008 by the IWW. This blog provided extensive video coverage (see earlier postings) and visit the links provided (at right). Also see the photos here.

Today I want to release my unpublished video interviews with activists who attended the action in Kentwood, Michigan, just outside of Grand Rapids.

"Voices from the Global Day of Action"


SHANNON





GERARD





COLE





MATT