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Open_Veins_8 OP t1_j06l1al wrote

In just one year, 270 stores have unionized across the country and many workers see this as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing.

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Dredly t1_j06mgkq wrote

Haven't they been closing all the stores that unionize?

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kifn2 t1_j06oghg wrote

Replying to Dredly (#927,701)

Some of them. They closed the Seattle store that unionized, then reopened it across the street but made it operated by a grocery store. Many of the other stores they closed were in the organizing process. Theoretically, it should be harder for them to do this after the store is actually unionized since a union could bring more resources to fight the closure than an unorganized workforce.

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alohabruh732 t1_j06ojfw wrote

I believe a majority of this country thinks this is a joke.

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Agent-Pierce- t1_j06q8qz wrote

Replying to alohabruh732 (#927,838)

You would be incorrect. Hard working human beings collectively working together to improve their lives and by extension society is generally seen with some level of admiration or indifference.

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axeville t1_j06vb95 wrote

Replying to Junior_Maintenance_4 (#928,129)

If they were smart they would identify which ones are unionized and let consumer preferences dictate. I use the app often and would filter to the union shops bc I support American unions and businesses. Likewise I use union grocery stores bc food is the same cost but people are supported.

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Advanced-Guard-4468 t1_j06xnov wrote

I still find it hard to believe people pay +$7 for a cup of coffee. I make a pot of Lucas Coffee for .64. Yes when I add a creamer it brings the cost to about $2 per pot.

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Spud_Rancher t1_j071e03 wrote

Hopefully the union puts progressive leadership in place.

I’ve been apart of good unions who want better labor rights for all and bad unions where it’s a seniority based fraternity.

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Lucaraidh t1_j073goh wrote

Nice! Love seeing the working class continuing to stand up to big corporations like Starbucks. Hope they stay open though.

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Advanced-Guard-4468 t1_j075d3w wrote

Replying to chaqalaqalaqa (#928,745)

The company sells their coffee beans in Costco. If people like the flavor they won't cease to exist. If they do go out of business, all those workers that have been receiving stock options will be hurt also.

The workers have been compensated. I'm not sure how much high price the company can charge for coffee or other items.

−13

Zenith2017 t1_j07kw4s wrote

Replying to Advanced-Guard-4468 (#928,388)

I agree that Starbucks is way overpriced for the quality, but it's worth saying that that sort of price is for a big ol espresso drink with a bunch of shit in it. A drip coffee is overpriced still but not $7 by any means

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topspin9 t1_j07n2rn wrote

Replying to Spud_Rancher (#928,588)

I never had the opportunity to work in a union . As a teen I worked in support of the Farmworkers strike in the Rio Grand ,Viva LA Helga.

Now all I do is sing the Union 🎵 song . I wanna join the C I O , cause everyone I see I owe.

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Guazzabuglio t1_j07q1q8 wrote

Replying to PencilTucky (#929,402)

Seriously. We take coffee for granted and it's criminally underpriced. It should cost way more. It's only able to be grown in a small part of the world, the farmers are underpaid, the processors are underpaid, and the people brewing it are underpaid.

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drxdrg08 t1_j08izjg wrote

Replying to Open_Veins_8 (#927,624)

Like everything else, unions have upsides and downsides.

One of the largest downsides is that there are no checks and balances that prevent union request from damaging the business, all the way up to going out of business.

Metalworkers have all but been eliminated. That business is now in Asia and Russia.

Autoworkers allowed the Japanese to take a huge chunk of the market.

There are many examples where short term gains for the union lead to long term losses for the union and the business.

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neverdowrong t1_j08mje4 wrote

Replying to drxdrg08 (#931,364)

A good union and a good company would recognize they have a mutual interest in making sure the company is as profitable and competitive as possible without sacrificing the quality of the product or the working conditions. Unfortunately, many companies are so greedy that they aren’t willing to compromise. And some unions are so focused on maintaining the status quo that they fail to recognize the value of an active, engaged rank-and-file membership that is contributing ideas that make the company and the union stronger.

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drxdrg08 t1_j08qno1 wrote

Replying to neverdowrong (#931,538)

> Unfortunately, many companies are so greedy that they aren’t willing to compromise.

The same can be said about unions. Greed is just human nature, and there are humans on the company side and the union side.

> A good union and a good company would recognize they have a mutual interest

Not going happen. Human nature is unchangeable, short of evolutionary changes, and that takes millions of years.

Where do unions work well? Germany? What are they doing differently? Well, they don't have company level unions for one. They are per industry.

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Super_C_Complex t1_j0965lt wrote

Replying to drxdrg08 (#931,364)

> Autoworkers allowed the Japanese to take a huge chunk of the market

Except Japanese employees were more productive in the 70s and built a reputation for well priced quality. Now Japanese cars are made in the US.

> Metalworkers have all but been eliminated. That business is now in Asia and Russia

Counterpoint. Arc furnaces are more versatile, cheaper, and efficient than large blast furnaces and the demand for structural steel has diminished due to suburbanization. There's still significant metallurgy in the US is just smaller scale.

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