Supporters rally for Starbucks workers

By Tony Murphy
New York

The coffee giant Starbucks has frequently been a target of protesters, mostly for its anti-environmental, pro-corporate and anti-people practices. On the first day of the anti-RNC-protest kickoff weekend, a mid-Manhattan Starbucks was again the target of a demonstration--this time supporting an effort by its workers to form a union.

Starbucks workers in New York generally start at under $8 an hour. While employees who work 20-plus hours are eligible for medical coverage, 40-hour work weeks are rare. In fact, bosses shuffle schedules to avoid them.

The workers' central demands at this store are increased pay, guaranteed hours with the option of full-time status, and an end to understaffing.

In July, Starbucks appealed a National Labor Relations Board decision in favor of a union certification election. On July 28, the board accepted Starbucks' appeal of the decision.

That effectively blocked the election since a ruling on the appeal could take years.

More...