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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 18 November 2022
Starbucks workers strike at more than 100 U.S. stores

By DEE-ANN DURBIN Eisen, a union organizer at
AP Business Writer one of the first stores to or-
Starbucks workers at more ganize in Buffalo, New York,
than 100 U.S. stores are on said workers are angry that
strike Thursday in their larg- Starbucks promised higher
est labor action since a pay and benefits to non-
campaign to unionize the union stores. Starbucks says
company’s stores began it is following the law and
late last year. can’t give union stores pay
The walkouts coincide with hikes without bargaining.
Starbucks’ annual Red Cup The labor action also at-
Day, when the company tracted some supporters.
gives free reusable cups Greg Windle, a member
to customers who order a of the Philadelphia chap-
holiday drink. Workers say ter of the Democratic So-
it’s often one of the busiest cialists of America, said he
days of the year. Starbucks showed at the strike at 8
declined to say how many a.m. to support his friends
red cups it plans to distrib- who work at Starbucks.
ute. Starbucks and the union
Workers say they’re seeking have begun contract talks
better pay, more consis- at 53 stores, with 13 addi-
tent schedules and higher tional sessions scheduled,
staffing levels in busy stores. People chant and hold signs in front of a Starbucks in New York, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. Starbucks Workers United
Stores in 25 states planned Associated Press said. No agreements have
to take part in the labor been reached so far.
action, according to Star- run U.S. locations. company usually has dif- stressful,” Ortiz said. The process has been con-
bucks Workers United, the “We remain committed to ficulty staffing during Red “And a lot of people don’t tentious. Earlier this week,
group organizing the ef- all partners and will contin- Cup Day because it’s so really notice, like, the hu- a regional director with
fort. Strikers are handing ue to work together, side- busy. mans behind this assem- the NLRB filed a request for
out their own red cups with by-side, to make Starbucks Silvia Baldwin, 26 and Tzvi bly.” an injunction against Star-
union logos. a company that works for Ortiz, 31, said they love Baldwin, who is on the bucks in federal court, say-
Starbucks, which opposes everyone,” the company being baristas at the 34th store’s bargaining commit- ing the company violated
the unionization effort, said said Thursday in a state- Street and Chestnut Street tee, is also frustrated that labor law when it fired a
it is aware of the walkouts ment. Starbucks in Philadelphia. the union hasn’t been able union organizer in Ann Ar-
and respects its employ- Some workers planned to But the work has gotten to bargain with Starbucks. bor, Michigan. The regional
ees’ right to lawfully protest. picket all day while oth- harder, with the under- Striking on Starbucks’ busi- director asked the court to
The Seattle company not- ers will do shorter walkouts. staffed store trying to fill de- est day felt inspiring and direct Starbucks to reinstate
ed that the protests are The union said the goal is to livery orders and in-person it will “be impossible to ig- the employee and stop in-
happening at a small num- shut stores down during the orders simultaneously. nore,” she said. terfering in the unionization
ber of its 9,000 company- strikes, and noted that the “It’s just not viable. It’s very Others, including Michelle campaign nationwide.q

Obama to announce expansion of young leaders program to US

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Pacific and Europe is being day democracy forum the environments restored, Obama adviser and CEO
Associated Press expanded to include the foundation is co-sponsoring children educated,” he of the Obama Foundation,
WASHINGTON (AP) — An United States. in New York City. says. “They’re creating said the U.S. extension of
Obama Foundation pro- Former President Barack The Obama Foundation new models for clean en- the leaders program is a
gram that has trained Obama is expected to an- Leaders United States pro- ergy generation and pov- “continuation of our efforts
hundreds of young lead- nounce the new program gram is a six-month leader- erty alleviation. It’s remark- to pay it forward by helping
ers across Africa, the Asia- on Thursday during a two- ship development program able and inspiring and a the next generation.”
for emerging leaders be- little humbling, since I sure The foundation, in partner-
tween the ages of 24 and wasn’t making such an ship with Columbia Univer-
45. The program will serve impact at their age. “And sity and the University of
more than 100 leaders from the good news is, we’re Chicago, is holding its first
the U.S. in its first year. Par- just scratching the surface democracy forum in New
ticipants will be chosen of what this next genera- York on Thursday and Fri-
through a competitive ap- tion is capable of,” Obama day. Democracy thinkers,
plication process. says. The Obama Founda- leaders and activists from
In remarks prepared for tion Leaders program has across the globe will dis-
delivery on Thursday at the worked with more than 700 cuss how to advance and
forum, Obama cites “con- people in Africa, the Asia- strengthen democracy
sistently high interest” in the Pacific and Europe since it in the United States and
foundation’s programs as a was launched in 2018 after abroad. Obama is sched-
reason for the expansion. Obama, a Democrat, left uled to close the first day
“The creativity, determina- the White House following of the forum with a speech
tion and passion of these two terms as president, ac- and a conversation with
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign rally leaders are already making cording to the foundation. a group of foundation
Nov. 5, 2022, in Philadelphia. an impact in lives saved, Valerie Jarrett, a longtime leaders.q
Associated Press