Newly-released video:
Starbucks Workers Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charges against Mall of
America over Illegal Detention of Supporters day before Republican National
Convention
Minneapolis- The Starbucks Workers Union of the Industrial Workers of the World
announced today that it is filing Unfair Labor Practice charges against the
Mall of America after fifty of its supporters were sealed onto a train by
police at the Mall of the America station and denied the right to escort a
union barista to his first day back on the job after an anti-union termination.
The union delegation was headed to the Mall of the America Starbucks location
on August 31st after a rally to celebrate the reinstatement of barista Erik
Forman which had been won through a combination of direct action, a legal
filing, and media advocacy.
“It was a surreal and deeply distressing experience to encounter heavily armed
riot cops blocking the doors of the train car and trampling on our right to
assembly. They even refused to let a diabetic child leave the train to get
medical attention,” said Jake Bell, a barista and member of the Starbucks
Workers Union. “They told us the ‘Mall doesn’t want you here,’ locked the
doors, and rerouted the train back to Minneapolis.”
In the Mall, it became clear that a massive police buildup had been coordinated
with the FBI and Starbucks management to pre-empt a supposed ‘protest’ in front
of the Mall of America Starbucks. The Industrial Workers of the World had been
explicit with police that no protest was planned. The Union has released video
evidence documenting the unlawful interference with constitutional rights and
international law, available here:
Forman had been illegally fired on July 10 for union activity, sparking an
outpouring of anger and disgust from baristas, customers and the general
public. The delegation escorting him back to his first day back on the job
received confirmation from transit police at both the Lake Street and
Bloomington rail stations that they should be allowed to enter the Mall
provided that they did not carry signs or disrupt business.
This is not the first time the IWW Starbucks Workers Union has experienced
rights violations during a political convention. At the Republican National
Convention in 2004, two IWW baristas were unlawfully arrested during a rally in
front of the Starbucks location in New York City where they worked. The
charges were successfully resolved and a lawsuit stemming from the event is
currently pending against various governmental defendants.
Starbucks Workers Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charges against Mall of
America over Illegal Detention of Supporters day before Republican National
Convention
Minneapolis- The Starbucks Workers Union of the Industrial Workers of the World
announced today that it is filing Unfair Labor Practice charges against the
Mall of America after fifty of its supporters were sealed onto a train by
police at the Mall of the America station and denied the right to escort a
union barista to his first day back on the job after an anti-union termination.
The union delegation was headed to the Mall of the America Starbucks location
on August 31st after a rally to celebrate the reinstatement of barista Erik
Forman which had been won through a combination of direct action, a legal
filing, and media advocacy.
“It was a surreal and deeply distressing experience to encounter heavily armed
riot cops blocking the doors of the train car and trampling on our right to
assembly. They even refused to let a diabetic child leave the train to get
medical attention,” said Jake Bell, a barista and member of the Starbucks
Workers Union. “They told us the ‘Mall doesn’t want you here,’ locked the
doors, and rerouted the train back to Minneapolis.”
In the Mall, it became clear that a massive police buildup had been coordinated
with the FBI and Starbucks management to pre-empt a supposed ‘protest’ in front
of the Mall of America Starbucks. The Industrial Workers of the World had been
explicit with police that no protest was planned. The Union has released video
evidence documenting the unlawful interference with constitutional rights and
international law, available here:
Forman had been illegally fired on July 10 for union activity, sparking an
outpouring of anger and disgust from baristas, customers and the general
public. The delegation escorting him back to his first day back on the job
received confirmation from transit police at both the Lake Street and
Bloomington rail stations that they should be allowed to enter the Mall
provided that they did not carry signs or disrupt business.
This is not the first time the IWW Starbucks Workers Union has experienced
rights violations during a political convention. At the Republican National
Convention in 2004, two IWW baristas were unlawfully arrested during a rally in
front of the Starbucks location in New York City where they worked. The
charges were successfully resolved and a lawsuit stemming from the event is
currently pending against various governmental defendants.
