Ep 228: Gen U: Generation Union (feat. Jaz Brisack & Casey Moore of Starbucks Workers United)
The Michael Moore Podcast
Michael Moore
4.7 • 9.2K Ratings
🗓️ 21 January 2022
⏱️ 79 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
There's a new hit item on the menu at Starbucks stores across the country: a signed union card. The workers at multiple Buffalo, NY-area Starbucks stores formed Starbucks Workers United this August, in response to dangerous COVID working conditions, unequal pay, and inadequate benefits. In less than half a year, they've managed to already unionize two Buffalo-area stores, in Elmwood and in Genesee, at a company notoriously aggressive in their anti-union tactics.
This is huge, a game-changing pair of victories — even in a year full of strikes and COVID walkouts. To hear the story of how these incredible Starbucks Workers United organized this victory, and how you can organize your workplace, Michael talked with the Starbucks workers Jaz Brisack & Casey Moore — or, as the Orwellian Starbucks PR calls them, “partners” — two young women who helped lead the organizing effort and succeeded in slaying the giant.
During the interview, Casey and Jaz encouraged Michael to cold-call the CEO of Starbucks. And when he does, someone in Nicaragua picks up the phone. A true Rumble moment.
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Help the workers of Starbucks get the fair pay, benefits, and protections they deserve: Contact Starbucks' Customer Support line and let them know that, as a customer, you demand that Starbucks stop trying to interfere in the Union organizing efforts.
To CALL Starbucks Customer Support: 1-800-782-7282
To EMAIL : Use this form
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To learn how to unionize your workplace, reach out to Workers United, an affiliate of the SEIU.
And here’s where you can learn more about or contact Starbucks Workers United.
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More on SB Workers United:
For a Newly Unionized Starbucks in Buffalo, the Future Looks Grand(e)
Starbucks Workers United Brings Union Campaign Home to Seattle
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Music:
Phil Ochs, "Links on the Chain"
Billy Bragg, "There is Power in a Union"
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | My podcast here was created using the anchor app. |
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| 0:38.4 | and get started. I can't tell you how many people I've heard from from you. |
| 0:43.0 | People listen to this podcast. We've gone on to create their own podcast. |
| 0:47.3 | I'm so happy to hear this. Now more than ever, our voices need to be heard. |
| 0:53.8 | This is Rumble with Michael Moore and I'm Michael Moore. |
| 1:53.8 | I'm the train. I'm the train. As you build one more, I'm the train. |
| 2:07.4 | It's the dead of winter, folks, and everyone's hunkering down and green down to avoid |
| 2:13.4 | home-acron or at least you should be, but some people can't. They're the people who feed us, |
| 2:23.4 | close us, who bring us our packages. I don't drink coffee, but maybe in your case, |
| 2:31.2 | they're the people that give you the coffee you need to start your day. |
| 2:36.8 | Or perhaps some of you who are listening, you are those people. |
| 2:39.9 | People that we like to call essential workers. |
| 2:46.5 | Well, for nearly two years, workers in all sectors of the service industry |
| 2:53.6 | have been working through grueling unsafe conditions without adequate personal protection gear, |
| 3:01.2 | with no recourse to protect themselves from customers who come in to scream at them without a |
| 3:07.1 | mask on because their ventilate didn't have enough foam. Do I have that right? |
| 3:14.7 | Ventilate. Again, I have to admit, I'm not much of a coffee person, but what I have been following |
... |
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