Working Class History

E123: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 3

Final part of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.This part covers international solidarity, Starbucks union-busting strategies, the decline of the union, and lessons for today.Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryMoreListen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossSolidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossUnions of our Own – Daniel GrossLearn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.AcknowledgementsThanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.Edited by Jesse French

E122: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 2

Part 2 of our three-part podcast series about the organising campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World union at Starbucks in the 2000s, in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.This part covers solidarity unionism and direct action on the job, tactics, and gains won by the workers. Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryMoreListen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossSolidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossUnions of our Own – Daniel GrossLearn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.AcknowledgementsThanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.Edited by Jesse French

E121: IWW Starbucks Workers Union, part 1

Before the current wave of organising at Starbucks, another group of workers in the early 2000s got together and formed a union at one of the most anti-union corporations on earth. They won better pay and conditions, and laid the groundwork for the unionisation campaign today. Learn their story in this three-part podcast series in conversation with Daniel Gross, one of the key organisers.Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Supporters also get access to two exclusive podcast series: Fireside Chats and Radical Reads. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryMorePart 1: Background about Starbucks, workers’ pay and conditions, the Industrial Workers of the World union, how the organising got started, and the legal avenues the IWW pursued. Available without ads for our supporters on Patreon.Listen to all 3 parts now without ads, plus an exclusive bonus episode on Patreon.More information, sources, show notes and eventually a transcript on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e121-123-iww-starbucks-workers-union/Get hold of books by Daniel Gross, including:Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossSolidarity Unionism at Starbucks – Staughton Lynd and Daniel GrossUnions of our Own – Daniel GrossLearn more about the IWW in our podcast series and in these books.Learn more about McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance in this bonus podcast episode, available on Patreon.Learn more about the Solidarity Union Network.Learn more about workplace organising in these organising guides.And, finally, learn about John’s experiences of organising at work in this bonus episode on Patreon.AcknowledgementsThanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands.Episode graphic: Starbucks Workers Union members, including Daniel, holding the sign, left, march down Union Square, NYC, 2007. Courtesy IWW.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.Edited by Jesse French

E124: [TEASER] Fireside Chat - World Cup of Chaos

Fireside Chat podcast available exclusively for our Patreon supporters we invited back Tomas Rothaus (from our Argentina 2001 episodes) to discuss football, politics, and the chaotic mess of the World Cup in Donald Trump's USA.Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryRecorded before the competition started,we discussed the many contradictions of being a radical football fan, the excitement of attending previous World Cups, the way various authoritarian regimes have utilised football for their own ends, and the many players and managers (past and present) who have believed in fairer society for all.Listen to the full 92-minute episode here:E124: Fireside Chat - World Cup of Chaos – Available exclusively for our supporters on PatreonMore informationGet a copy of Tomas' book, Argentina, a Tale of Two Utopias: Anarchism, Soccer, NeoliberalismYou can also get Tomas’ other book, Another War Is Possible: Militant Anarchist Experiences in the Antiglobalization EraCheck out our other books about football and politics in our online storeMore football related merchAcknowledgementsThanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Fellow Worker and Jazz Hands.Edited by Jesse FrenchOur theme tune is Montaigne’s version of the classic labour movement anthem, ‘Bread and Roses’, performed by Montaigne and Nick Harriott, and mixed by Wave Racer. Download the song here, with all proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians. More from Montaigne: website, Instagram, YouTube.You can listen to all of our Patreon-exclusive podcast episodes by joining us on Patreon at patreon.com/workingclasshistory

E120.1: [TEASER] 1926 general strike, bonus episode

Bonus episode for our three-part miniseries about the UK’s 1926 general strike, in collaboration with the General Strike 100 project and told using interviews with striking workers themselves.In this episode, East London dock worker, Harry Watson, talks about life and work on the docks around the time of the general strike as well as the split of skilled dock workers away from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).Our podcast is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes without ads, bonus episodes, two exclusive podcast series – Fireside Chats and Radical Reads – as well as free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryListen to the whole exclusive bonus episode without ads by joining us on Patreon. As well as more from Harry, it also includes Betty Harrison who recounts her experience of the 1925 textile workers' strike: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e120-1-1926-155633267Listen to our exclusive music bonus episode where we explain the history behind the theme song used for this series (recorded for us by award-winning artist, Montaigne)More infoFind out about events to commemorate the strike in your area (and beyond!) on the General Strike 100 websiteYou will also find dozens of stories about incidents which took place during the strike in cities, towns, and villages across the UKGet a copy of our interviewee, Judy Cox’s Revisiting the General Strike of 1926: When Workers Were Ready To DareMore information including sources, further reading, images and soon a transcript available on the webpage for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e119-121-1926-general-strike/AcknowledgementsThanks to our Patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands and Fellow Worker.Episode graphic: traffic on Westminster Bridge as a result of public transport being shut down. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.Our theme tune for this preview is Montaigne’s version of the classic labour movement anthem, ‘Bread and Roses’, performed by Montaigne and Nick Harriott, and mixed by Wave Racer. Download the song here, with all proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians. More from Montaigne: website, Instagram, YouTube.Edited by Jesse French