Around 400 workers in Stockton, CA who make cups and other packaging for Starbucks and fast food companies like McDonalds are facing sharp cuts in their benefits, hours and wages in addition to the replacement of good union jobs by temporary workers. Most are workers of color, and all are members of the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers.
AWPPW has been in negotiations with the company for a full year, and the next round of talks will begin in early December. Accordingly, AWPPW and its allies are planning two protests in Seattle as part of an international day of action to fight back against poverty wages, cuts in benefits, and unsafe working conditions throughout the fast food supply chain. We’re working in partnership with the IWW Starbucks Union, Pactiv New Jersey & Unite New Zealand.
7 members of the AWPPW local 83 in Stockton, along with dozens of their allies will travel to Seattle on Monday November 25th. We will meet at 10:00 am at Starbucks Headquarters (2401 Utah Ave. S) and rally there until noon. We will then meet again at CEO Howard Shultz’s local Starbucks (4000 E Madison Ave.) and leaflet in his neighborhood between 1:00 and 2:00 pm. We call on Schultz and Starbucks to be good corporate citizens and make the cup manufacturer sit down with the pulp and paper workers.
Let’s combat corporate greed & fight for good, middle class jobs in the food supply chain! Bring your family, friends, and co-workers, and we’ll tell Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz to use his power to resolve the ongoing labor dispute between AWPPW & Pactiv.
This is one part of a global day of action from folks all along the supply chain, with events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, Texas, China, New Zealand, & more. Also part of Food Chain Workers Alliance’s International Food Workers week: November 24th-30th.
Local Contact: Alex Brott: 707.591.3243, alex.brott32@gmail.com.