OKLAHOMA CITY – Community members came out to the Starbucks on 23rd and Robinson, OKC over the weekend to show their support for the Starbucks workers as they prepare for a possible local strike.
Starbucks Workers United is currently negotiating a contract with the corporation and battling repeated violations of labor law, and the nationwide strikes are a result of that.
The contract is down to the last 10%, but the workers say the corporation isn’t bargaining in good-faith. The workers want improved wages and working conditions, and an end to union-busting.
The local engaged in an informational picket earlier this fall and we were there.
Over a dozen people were present on Saturday morning from various groups or just individuals that wanted to show support for the Starbucks workers and workers nationwide.
Free Press talked to several at the rally.
Joey came out to support the OKC workers at Starbucks as a member of the People’s Defense Committee of OKC.
“As an organization, we’re looking to build relationships with other people engaged in the struggle,” Joey said.
Another rally-goer, Flynn, said he drove by and saw some familiar organizers seen at other events, and stopped to show his support. “I just knew I had to support a lot of people that love the community, and want to support worker and union rights and fight the bourgeoisie,” he stated.
“Without support, especially on these fundamental community worker rights like Starbucks, there’s not a high density of workers at Starbucks to support the change in labor laws at Starbucks, so community coming out shows this affects their sales and bottom line,” said Flynn. “With more community support, any business, large-scale or small-scale, can change and revolutionize their entire bottom line.”
Neha Cremin, a former Starbucks union organizer, was also there.
“I’m here to continue supporting Starbucks workers,” Cremin said. “I still really believe that it’s essential for these workers to have a contract that actually provides them things like stable hours, healthcare, better wages, that sort of thing.”
Cremin was there to “raise awareness” about the upcoming strikes nationwide, and “motivate the community” to support the working class.
Asked about why it’s important for the community to show support for these workers, Cremin said, “I think it’s such an important part of this campaign, and it has been from the beginning.”
She continued, “Obviously, the union is still building, and it’s expanding to more stores, more and more workers are joining the union, but a big part of our power does come from solidarity, from support from the community.”
Cremin explained that backlash from the community over Starbucks’ actions really help the workers a lot in their fight for workers’ rights.
“Backlash from the community, when Starbucks does really sh*tty things, has been a really big motivator for Starbucks to actually work with the union. Like when we got to national contract bargaining last year, it was primarily because the customer boycotts that were happening, you know, the wave of awareness about union-busting, that sort of thing,” Cremin concluded.
Nationwide, Starbucks Workers United has been striking with strikes in most major cities as they work toward a finalized contract. 4,500 baristas in over 150 cities are on strike now, including at distribution plants and regional offices.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
