Starbucks Union Zindabad

First off I should explain what Zindabad means for those who don’t know Urdu or Hindi, it means ‘long live’. So the title actually means ‘Long live Starbucks Union’. Now that we are squared off with the title, let us move on to the content. I am not a big fan of Starbucks, except for the occasional meeting of my friends for a cup of coffee or taking Yash for a cup of hot chocolate with a cookie or a brownie when he achieves something like passing a level in Kumon or getting to a new level in Tae Kwon Do.

Whenever I go to Starbucks, unlike some, I just go to one and only Starbucks store near my house and close to all of Yash’s activities, I order my usual ‘regular’ coffee and during holiday season, I get my pumpkin spiced latte or ginger bread latte (have to tell them ‘skip the whip’) Depending on the time of the day that I go in the store, I see different baristas with their green aprons on, whipping away the drinks ordered by the customers. So what is great about it? Any place would be doing the same thing – fulfilling customer orders.

But little did I know, until I read an article about Starbucks Union having a picket last week at Dupont Circle, at the store at 1501 Connecticut Ave. NW. for firing some of their baristas for raising their voices against Starbucks atrocities. Starbucks is mostly understaffed and their baristas are left unsure about the number of hours they would work in a given week. Most of Starbucks employees are working part-time and that is how this corporate is cutting down on its benefits costs. If the employees raise their voice and join the Union, they either get bribed or booted from their job.

As much as anyone would go their and enjoy a cup of coffee, the company should make sure it makes its employees, especially the baristas happy about their work of making those coffees. If the barista is unhappy about their working conditions, I would get my coffee either extremely hot or strong or maybe with a shower of their spit (geez no). What the baristas are asking for is reasonable. They are asking for proper scheduling in their work hours, decent insurance coverage and a decent apron. I wouldn’t mind joining their union to support them. (I don’t like their green aprons either). So, Starbucks Union Zindabad!