Striking for Who?
Starbucks workers are striking, but protection for Black workers are not in the demands.
Throughout Amerikkka right now Black workers are losing their jobs. More than 300,000 Black women have lost their job this year. It is unfortunate that we are seeing major strikes across that country for workers but DEI is being left out of the demands. We are being overlooked; again. We need to make sure that our rights to employment and safety in the workplace are being protected. As we stand with Starbucks Workers United while they strike we must ask; are we being left out of the demands?
Starbucks has rolled out their holiday menu; their biggest campaign of the year. The workers at 65 stores across the country have went on strike. Starbucks Workers United union are demanding fair pay to meet the current cost of living, putting an end to shady staffing practices that are denying workers benefits, and for the corporation to acknowledge the union.
When they mention for all workers; what does that mean when Black workers are being left out? Starbucks shareholders voted to end management pay incentives based around diversity. A valuable piece of their DEI program. However, no mention of this being reversed is in the demands of the “Red Cup Rebellion”.
DEI programs should be a demand.
I fully stand by the strike, but we are being forgotten at the negotiation table. Systemic racism is deeply embedded into the Amerikkkan workplace. In every single era of American history Black workers have had a harder time getting work. When we do gain employment we have to be better than our white counterpart. Even if we are a better worker we get paid less and face hostility in the workplace. There is not a moment in American history when this has not been true. Why are we not being protected by our fellow workers from this exploitation?
We are still going to show up to strike in the hopes that for all means us too. However, there is no guaranteed protection. Our right to equal employment and a safe workspace have to be part of the demands. There is no reason that our protections are being left out of the unions largest strike yet. If the strike fails and layoffs happen because of the economic impact of the strike; guess who’s going out first.
Black workers need to be protected now more than ever.
Worker solidarity is our only way forward out of this capitalist hellscape. We should all be fully in support of the Starbucks Workers United union. Securing a contract, raising pay, and stopping shady shift scheduling practice will make Starbucks a better workplace. However, we demand representation. All unions should acknowledge the systemic oppression and racism towards the Black worker. Power to the Black worker!
Stay woke,
Loc
