Entries tagged with: labor

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Starbucks Union's "Spring Offensive against Starbucks" in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and the Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union are in the midst of a "Spring Offensive against Starbucks (SOS)" to increase local pressure on the coffee giant.

Posted on May 19, 2008 12:30 AM in Features

Strike at American Axle Plants Enters Fourth Week

A strike at American Axle & Manufacturing has entered its fourth week, and not surprisingly, the best coverage of the strike is coming from the independent press and not the corporate media. Moreover, the unions involved have issued a call for solidarity and support.

Posted on March 24, 2008 2:07 PM in Features

Protest Demands Fair Food from Burger King

On Friday, a protest was held outside of a Burger King in Grand Rapids to demand that Burger King pay more for the tomatoes that its restaurant uses.

Posted on December 3, 2007 6:56 PM in Features

Starbucks Settles Charges with NLRB over Anti-Union Activities in Grand Rapids

On Friday, the Grand Rapids chapter of the Starbucks Workers Union held a press conference responding to charges of anti-union activity against Starbucks. Shortly after the press conference, Starbucks announced that it was settling the case with the NLRB. The company will be required to post a notice announcing its wrongdoing at all Michigan stores.

Posted on September 29, 2007 4:54 PM in Features

NLRB Considering Complaint against Starbucks in Grand Rapids

The National Labor Relations Board has expressed its intent to file a complaint against Starbucks over charges that it is stifling union activity at its Wealthy Street store in Grand Rapids unless the company decides to settle the case.

Posted on September 25, 2007 7:04 PM in Features

Aquinas College Dumps Coke

Aquinas College has become the 26th college or university in the United States to terminate its contract with Coca-Cola due to Coca-Cola's role in the killing of workers at its Colombian bottling plants.

Posted on June 6, 2007 12:13 PM in Features

Legendary IWW returns to Grand Rapids

The Starbucks Workers Union, which recently announced its presence at the Wealthy Street Starbucks in East Grand rapids, is practicing an innovative form of union organizing known as "solidarity unionism." This type of organizing has been used throughout the Industrial Workers of the World's (IWW)--of which the Starbucks Workers Union is a part--history.

Posted on June 3, 2007 3:56 PM in Features

Bill Clinton, NAFTA, and Michigan

In 1993, then President Bill Clinton aggressively promoted the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) promising that it would create thousands of jobs. Among the more controversial aspects Clinton's legacy, NAFTA has cost thousands of jobs in the United States, including over 60,000 in Michigan, while having devestating effects on workers in Mexico.

Posted on June 1, 2007 8:44 PM in Features

Starbucks Union Celebrates Third Anniversary in Grand Rapids and Around the US

Baristas at the Wealthy Street Starbucks went public with their affiliation with the Starbucks Workers Union on the same day as baristas at a Chicago store. In addition, the union has announced that it will file a legal challenge against Starbucks' union-busting tactics in Grand Rapids.

Posted on May 18, 2007 3:03 PM in Features

Grand Rapids Starbucks Makes Michigan the Fourth State with Starbucks Workers Union Members

Baristas at the Wealthy Street Starbucks store in East Grand Rapids announced their membership in the IWW Starbucks Union. The announcement is the first by Starbucks in Michigan and is the fourth state in which Starbucks baristas have announced their membership with the union.

Posted on May 17, 2007 1:29 PM in Features

The History of May Day

Today is May Day, a day that is largely forgotten in the United States despite its significance to the labor movement. Although rarely acknowledged, May Day and the Haymarket incident are inexorably linked to the struggle for the 8-hour day.

Posted on May 1, 2007 3:08 PM in Features

Starbucks Union Intimidation Campaign Begins in Grand Rapids

In response to a union organizing campaign in West Michigan, area Starbucks stores have undertaken an aggressive union intimidation campaign that has included video surveillance and anti-union propaganda.

Posted on April 12, 2007 2:11 PM in Features

Students Arrested at University of Michigan Sit-In

On Tuesday, twelve students at the University of Michigan were arrested at a sit-in held as part of an ongoing campaign by campus activists to stop the use of sweatshop labor for clothing bearing the University's logo.

Posted on April 5, 2007 9:07 PM in Features

University of Michigan Administration Building Taken Over, Students Demand Action Against Sweatshops

Tuesday morning, students at the University of Michigan occupied an administrative building to protest the University's failure to sign-on to the anti-sweatshop Designated Suppliers Program (DSP).

Posted on April 3, 2007 6:46 PM in Features

Professor Donicio Valdez talks about Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and Food Politics

On Thursday, GVSU hosted professor Donicio Valdez of MSU as part of the unversity's Cesar Chavez Week. Valdez discussed Cesar Chavez, his organizing work with the United Farm Workers, and the politics of food.

Posted on March 31, 2007 7:02 PM in Features

New Report Details Starbucks "Social Irresponsibility"

Last week in conjunction with protests held outside of Starbucks annual shareholders meeting, the Starbucks Workers Union released a new report detailing Starbucks' "social irresponsibility." The report, an alternative to Starbucks' Corporate Social Responsibility report, examines the prices paid to coffee farmers, treatment of baristas serving coffee, and its anti-union activities.

Posted on March 27, 2007 5:58 PM in Features

Union Takes on Starbucks in Grand Rapids and Around the Country

Starbucks stores around the country are being targeted by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) for unionization in response to Starbucks’ low wages and poor treatment of workers. The campaign has also been undertaken in Grand Rapids, with the local IWW chapter and GVSU's Students Against Sweatshops group working on the campaign.

Posted on November 14, 2006 9:32 PM in Features

Protestors Tell Victoria’s Secret to Keep the Gina Factory Open

Over the weekend, activists with Students Against Sweatshops at Grand Valley State University held a protest outside of the Victoria's Secret store inside of Woodland Mall to demand that the company stop the one of its suppliers from closing a unionized factory in Thailand in order to move production to China where unions are outlawed.

Posted on October 1, 2006 9:29 PM in Features

CEOs of Military Contractors and Oil Companies Making Fortunes off “War on Terror,” Oil Shortages

A new joint study by the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy has found that the CEOs of the top military contractors and oil industry corporations are making substantial personal profits off of the "war on terror." A military contractor with a local presence—L-3 Communications—was identified as one of the top 34 military contractors in the report.

Posted on September 1, 2006 10:09 AM in Features

Study Shows Rise in Worker Fatalities, Michigan among States with Lowest Rate

In 2004, workplace fatalities increased by 2%, marking the first increase since 1994, with workplace fatalities for Hispanic and Latino workers increasing by 11%. Michigan's fatality rate was considerably lower than the state average and was one of the ten state's with the lowest rate of workplace fatalities.

Posted on May 9, 2006 9:24 AM in Features

Granholm, Democrats, Tout Minimum Wage Increase

At a stop in Grand Rapids last night, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm and local Democrats touted the recent passage of an increase in Michigan's minimum wage while encouraging organized labor to continue to support the Democratic Party.

Posted on March 30, 2006 10:36 AM in Features

Wal-Mart Pledges Support for Minimum Wage Increase, Other Improvements

On Monday Wal-Mart announced that it would undertake a number of new intiatives to showcase its commitment to sustainability, but critics are already noticing that the plan is more rhetoric than substance.

Posted on October 26, 2005 2:38 PM in Features

Students at 40 Schools, GVSU, Launch Sweat Free Campus Campaign

Yesterday, student groups affiliated with United Students against Sweatshops (USAS) at 40 schools, including Grand Valley State University (GVSU), held a series of coordinated actions to announce USAS’s new “sweat-free campus” campaign.

Posted on September 29, 2005 8:18 PM in Features

Solidarity Picket with Northwest Airline Machanics to be held in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids brach of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is holding a solidarity picket with striking Northwest Airlines mechanics. The mechanics have been on strike since Northwest told them to accept pay cuts of 20% and the elimination of 1,000 jobs.

Posted on September 2, 2005 10:47 AM in Features

Right-wing Group Targets GVSU Taco Bell Boycott

The local chapter of "Protest Warrior" has announced a campaign against Students against Sweatshops GVSU's efforts to improve the working conditions for farm workers picking tomatoes for Taco Bell.

Posted on January 13, 2005 8:22 PM in Features

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