[mobglob-discuss] VDLC STRIKE SUPPORT COMMITTEE REPORT - May 21st, 2002

[Gordon Flett]

***************VDLC STRIKE SUPPORT COMMITTEE REPORT***************
                        May 21st, 2002
                     
1. 46 members of USWA Local 2952 struck Modern Auto Plating Ltd. in
Vancouver on the 24th of January, 2002. They are mainly attempting to
improve workplace health & safety conditions, while asking for modest,
reasonable increases in wages and benefits. Please visit the 24 hour a
day picket line at 60 East 5th Ave. (at Quebec St.) to show support for
these exploited, mostly immigrant workers. You only have to see the
outside of this sweatshop to realize why these workers need health &
safety improvements. If nobody is out front check in the lane out back
where the picket trailer is. For further information contact the local
at 525-7481. The company's # is 876-4161.

2. The members of the B.C. Projectionists Union, IATSE Local 348, were
locked out by Famous Players on Saturday, April 27th, 2002, in British
Columbia. There are only 8 projectionists left, one in Victoria and 7 in
the Lower Mainland area, down dramatically from the 62 involved in the
last lock-out.

The last time they locked them out, in December of 1998, there was 
a bitter 16 month dispute, and the Projectionists' top wage scale was
knocked down by 60% to $15/hr. Now Famous Players has given them a
$10/hr take-it-or-leave-it offer, and locked them out again. They have
given them an offer they cannot possibly accept, as the goal is to get
rid of the union once and for all, perhaps to take advantage of the new
$6/hr "training" wage that has been implemented by the B.C. government.

Victoria Picketing Schedule:

Silver City Tillicum
3130 Tillicum Rd.
Corner of Burnside & Tillicum
Fridays   6:00-10:00 PM
Saturdays 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM
Sundays   2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM
Tuesdays  6:00-10:00 PM

A comprehensive Lower Mainland picketing schedule is being developed,
but for now please phone 685-0007 or 782-8077 for updates.
Please email messages of support to: gergsnave at hotmail.com and letters
of protest to: guestservices at famousplayers.ca

3. 140 members of CAW Local 3000 representing the interests of employees
of 12 Starbucks stores in British Columbia launched their UnStrike For
Justice and Dignity against the company on May 13, 2002. The UnStrike is
the old "strike on the job", in which the workers continue to work and
collect wages, and in this case they are refusing to wear the company
uniform, and are leafleting and talking to the customers of both
unionized and non-unionized Starbucks about the company's greedy
anti-worker stance. They will also be asking the workers at the
non-union stores to join them in the union. The UnStrike has been
previously successful for CAW Local 3000 members at both Starbucks and
the Terminal City Club.

Starbucks has refused to bargain in good faith for months now, and they
have continued to reject every single union proposal in regards to
health & safety, sick leave, benefits and wages. They also wish to
eliminate job security rights such as seniority and fair scheduling.

This is the behaviour of a company that will probably top $3 billion in
sales this year, makes an astounding 31.5% return on investment, and
plans to add 1200 stores to its current 5000 (it has 160 in B.C.).

The workers are asking anyone with a Starbucks "smart" Card to deplete
it at a unionized store and don't use it again. These cards represent an
interest-free loan to Starbucks (and your money becomes a corporate
donation if you lose your card). The resulting decrease in use of cash
and tips for Baristas has reduced their income by about 25 cents an
hour, or 2%.  
 
They're also asking people to Send Starbucks A Message. Please write 
Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman and Chief Global Strategist, 
Starbucks Corporation, 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington,
U.S.A., 98134 or 
email to:hschultz at starbucks.com and tell him you expect Starbucks to
bargain honestly for a fair collective agreement for CAW Starbucks
UnStrikers. 

For more information about the CAW Starbucks UnStrike for Justice and 
Dignity check out their excellent CAW Canada website at
http://www.caw.ca , where you can Send Starbucks A Message using the
Starbucks 'hot button' or via 'Campaigns and Issues'. 

Please patronize the following Vancouver and Westbank Starbucks, and do
not patronize non-union outlets for at least the duration of the
UnStrike: 

2531 East Hastings St.- east of Nanaimo St.; 
3451 Kingsway - at Tyne, west of Joyce St.; 
1702 Robson St. - east of Denman St.; 
1095 Howe St. - at Helmecken; 
811 Hornby St. - across from Vancouver Courts; 
1641 Davie St. - west of Denman; 
Royal Centre Mall - Dunsmuir entrance; 
1395 Main St. - at the Skytrain; 
1752 Commercial Drive - at 2rd Ave.; 
3492 Cambie St. - at 19th Ave.; 
1015 Denman St. - near Coast Stanley Park Hotel; and 
22 - 3645 Gossett Rd. - Westbank Centre 


For additional information: Email CAWStarbucksUnStrike at caw.ca 
or call CAW Canada Local 3000 at (604) 526-3038