to sigh,

1. The IWW did not target Starbucks and choose to organize it. Workers in each of the 8 union stores came to the IWW and learned how to organize for themselves. The workers in each shop decide how they want to organize, what their demands will be, and what actions to take to ensure that demands are met.

2. Sure, there is the possibility of picking up shifts at other stores, but why should workers have to scramble to do that? We should not have to worry about calling store after store to get the hours we need. We should not have to travel halfway across the city to pick up a shift when we should be able to work in our home stores. Every customer of the Logan Square Starbucks knows that the location is terribly understaffed. Thus, not only the workers suffer from lack of hours, but customers have to deal with longer lines and slower service because their baristas are worn out.

3. As for dues… they are $6 a month. That’s one less Venti Frappuccino per month to ensure legal protection for a basic human right. We work extremely hard and we are demanding that our rights be respected.

4. If workers at a fast food restaurant want to organize their shops, they can. But no one is going to step in and do it for them.

5. We ARE down with the people who work there because we ARE the people who work there.

6. We aren’t demanding that Starbucks make every worker full time. We are demanding the OPTION for full time status and guaranteed minimum hours, what that number is should be entirely up to the worker. We shouldn’t have to work second jobs to survive, one should be enough.

7. You are right about the IWW being unconventional… but that’s a positive thing! The IWW is a volunteer, democratically run union. No one is forced to join. It is non-hierarchal and there are no paid organizers. As a matter of fact, we are all organizers! We are all leaders!

…and as for our organizing skill… the Wobblies have been around for 101 years. If there is anything we have it is experience...