Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Hundreds of supporters and onlookers were on Elmwood Avenue Wednesday morning listening to musician and activist Billy Bragg singing pro-union tunes alongside the Starbuck workers at during their picket.
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Michelle Eisen, organizing member of Starbuck Workers United says that the continued support from activists like Billy Bragg and the nationally growing Starbucks unionization movement is great and will get the unionized store one step closer to negotiating a fair contract with the large coffee chain and put an end to the constant retaliation efforts that hinder them for effectively doing their jobs.
"I'm incredibly confident because we get stronger every day," says Eisen. "We are organizing more stores across the country every day. We are now 250+ stores strong. That encompasses over 6500 unionized Starbucks workers. That's in less than a year."
Eisen says there's a good reason for great success of these stores unionizing, "Our communities and the people around us, around the stores recognize how important this is and what an amazing moment the labor movement is in and want to see us succeed. As long as that keeps going, as long as that support and that energy keeps going and building. There's no reason for us not to be successful."
Many frequent customers of the Elmwood location attended the picket to show their support. Jameson Krieg, a local customer says the Starbucks workers just want fair treatment and an end to the unjustness.
"Starbucks has made very substantial claims about supporting the transgender community and I would like them to continue to back up those claims and continue to make it better for the people that work here. They don't want to cause trouble in the community. They love their community. It's despicable when you can see how particular and specific the union busting tactics clearly are. You can't help but be outraged. That's why I continue to be out here. I want them to do better, they deserve better. I really hope that Starbucks makes this better. They only have to bring themselves to the table and make peace with the terms," Krieg says.
Eisen agrees, "They treat us like we're disposable. It is corporate greed at its finest. They still parade around like they are better than other corporations and we need people to realize that we want this company to be as good as it says it is."
According to Eisen, talks with the company and the union have been scheduled and are set to convene in the next couple weeks.