We have to remember that any sort of class consciousness has been systemically dismantled in US since WW2 times. People are rediscovering methods for organization, and it’s going to take time for them to learn how to do it effectively and to develop broader consciousness regarding capitalism. I see this as a positive development because if unionizing becomes normalized that’s a first step towards people learning about things like collective bargaining and collective political action.
The job for the politically advanced vanguard is to engage with other workers, to guide them, and to teach them in order to develop the kind of class consciousness we need. It’s not going to happen on its own.
I smell a carefully plotted PR stunt. People pay billions for the amount of free advertisements and name placements Starbucks gets from this, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”. Screaming someone’s brand name and making their CEO a household name, doesn’t have the worst effect on their stock price. Reading this article I’m not being asked to vote for anything, or donate anywhere, all I’ve learned is that Starbucks gives away free red holiday cups or something, every year. I just want a free cup now that’s all.
I think you might be conflating union actions with reporting on union actions. The union is representing its members, but the reporting starts by focusing on the free cup. Vice definitely isn’t a worker forward publication. The union is asking for support they would like right at the top of their home page:
https://sbworkersunited.org/
Also, unions don’t end at corporate boundaries. Read the FAQ on the above link to see how the Starbucks union fits into the local union landscape.
it makes sense doesn’t it? a completely inept union that can be gotten rid of at anytime, that anyone can either be promoted from or fired from? Starbucks’ first union effort was in 1985 almost 40 years were later we’ve got one whole store. Look at the spook in charge of this new one too. Jaz Brisack, a rhodes scholar and oxford grad who goes to work for minimum wage at starbucks? All these articles saying “starbucks” millions of times over and over, and what happens? maybe they get a small cost of living raise? if that?
? There are about 250 stores that have approved unionization across a large area impacting 6500 employees. It did start with one store though.
it makes sense doesn’t it
No. I believe that Starbucks is trying to make the most of the situation, but they would dissolve the union or would’ve blocked it in the first place if they could.
back in 1985 not only did the CEO openly support the union, but tried claim the original unionization efforts were his idea in the first place, then once the story left the headlines about how everyone at one starbucks has healthcare now, they gutted the union and it dissolved. Why do I feel that will happen again and again throughout starbucks lifetime?
Starbucks is fighting this tooth and nail, and they’ve shut down stores that managed to unionize. I highly doubt companies are encouraging unionization.
franchises open and close stores on a whim all the time, they also fire people for no reason all the time, 99% of employees don’t last a year at any of these corporate mega chains. I don’t see them fighting tooth and nail I see them continuing on with business as usual, while posting record profits
I’m far more interested in the ongoing railroad strikes in the US, hardly ever hear a word about them, if I didn’t go out of my way to google it every now and then I wouldn’t even know it’s going on. Granted it’s in the US so its not a real union, or a real strike those are highly illegal, and considered an act of treason, but its interesting to watch. Especially considering how much the transportation industry is being automated, driverless trucks, hyperloops, at home deliveries skyrocketing etc
Sure, railroad strikes have much more potential, but it all adds up in my opinion. As I said earlier, I think the key part is that workers are recognizing the need to organize and act collectively. Every such effort should be encouraged, and when these efforts are misguided then efforts should be made to help steer people in the right direction.
I call it cheerleaderism, your intentions are all that matter, you’re on our team so we just say “rah rah sis boom bah goooo ummm… checks notes the starbucks corporate union rah!”
We have to remember that any sort of class consciousness has been systemically dismantled in US since WW2 times. People are rediscovering methods for organization, and it’s going to take time for them to learn how to do it effectively and to develop broader consciousness regarding capitalism. I see this as a positive development because if unionizing becomes normalized that’s a first step towards people learning about things like collective bargaining and collective political action.
The job for the politically advanced vanguard is to engage with other workers, to guide them, and to teach them in order to develop the kind of class consciousness we need. It’s not going to happen on its own.
I smell a carefully plotted PR stunt. People pay billions for the amount of free advertisements and name placements Starbucks gets from this, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”. Screaming someone’s brand name and making their CEO a household name, doesn’t have the worst effect on their stock price. Reading this article I’m not being asked to vote for anything, or donate anywhere, all I’ve learned is that Starbucks gives away free red holiday cups or something, every year. I just want a free cup now that’s all.
I think you might be conflating union actions with reporting on union actions. The union is representing its members, but the reporting starts by focusing on the free cup. Vice definitely isn’t a worker forward publication. The union is asking for support they would like right at the top of their home page: https://sbworkersunited.org/
Also, unions don’t end at corporate boundaries. Read the FAQ on the above link to see how the Starbucks union fits into the local union landscape.
I see, so it’s like vaguely connected to the SEIU?.. but so many red flags right away, like this:
why?
why?
that’s so sad
wouldn’t you just prefer seniority?
who talks like this?
I’d much rather prefer it go bankrupt
Are you saying the entire unionization effort is a set up for publicity?
Not exactly how I’d frame it but that is something vice news would do frankly. Starbucks doesn’t want a union but they can make the most of it.
it makes sense doesn’t it? a completely inept union that can be gotten rid of at anytime, that anyone can either be promoted from or fired from? Starbucks’ first union effort was in 1985 almost 40 years were later we’ve got one whole store. Look at the spook in charge of this new one too. Jaz Brisack, a rhodes scholar and oxford grad who goes to work for minimum wage at starbucks? All these articles saying “starbucks” millions of times over and over, and what happens? maybe they get a small cost of living raise? if that?
? There are about 250 stores that have approved unionization across a large area impacting 6500 employees. It did start with one store though.
No. I believe that Starbucks is trying to make the most of the situation, but they would dissolve the union or would’ve blocked it in the first place if they could.
back in 1985 not only did the CEO openly support the union, but tried claim the original unionization efforts were his idea in the first place, then once the story left the headlines about how everyone at one starbucks has healthcare now, they gutted the union and it dissolved. Why do I feel that will happen again and again throughout starbucks lifetime?
Starbucks is fighting this tooth and nail, and they’ve shut down stores that managed to unionize. I highly doubt companies are encouraging unionization.
franchises open and close stores on a whim all the time, they also fire people for no reason all the time, 99% of employees don’t last a year at any of these corporate mega chains. I don’t see them fighting tooth and nail I see them continuing on with business as usual, while posting record profits
I guess we see things differently here ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m far more interested in the ongoing railroad strikes in the US, hardly ever hear a word about them, if I didn’t go out of my way to google it every now and then I wouldn’t even know it’s going on. Granted it’s in the US so its not a real union, or a real strike those are highly illegal, and considered an act of treason, but its interesting to watch. Especially considering how much the transportation industry is being automated, driverless trucks, hyperloops, at home deliveries skyrocketing etc
Sure, railroad strikes have much more potential, but it all adds up in my opinion. As I said earlier, I think the key part is that workers are recognizing the need to organize and act collectively. Every such effort should be encouraged, and when these efforts are misguided then efforts should be made to help steer people in the right direction.
I call it cheerleaderism, your intentions are all that matter, you’re on our team so we just say “rah rah sis boom bah goooo ummm… checks notes the starbucks corporate union rah!”
As I said, people need to be educated. This is literally why the concept of the vanguard party exists.