November 1, 1999
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Attached to this leaflet is the full text of Mediator Brian Foley’s October 27th Recommendations for settlement our second collective agreement with Starbucks Coffee. Your Bargaining Committee is recommending you vote to accept the Mediator Foley’s recommendations.
Our UnStrike is getting significant public support and is generating substantial favourable responses but our primary goal has always been to get a fair agreement. Your Bargaining Committee indicated to the Mediator that we believe it was responsible for both parties to get back to the bargaining table. We stated that we were prepared to escalate the UnStrike to a full strike and call for a broad based boycott of Starbucks.
We have not achieved earned sick leave. Starbucks is adamant that hourly Baristas are not entitled to earned sick leave. We strongly disagree. We have raised the issue in a very public way and will continue to raise the issue of earned sick leave with Starbucks in the months and years ahead. Nevertheless, we believe the Mediators’ Recommendations, summarized below, constitute a fair settlement that builds on our historic bargaining gains of our first collective agreement of 1997.
Term of Agreement - 2 years. Effective July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2001. This means we will be into bargaining again in about 1 ˝ years.
Cost sharing of health and welfare plans will continue between Company and employees. If insurance plan carrier rates increase the Company will provide the Union with full documentation to support the increases prior to any increase taking place.
Scheduling of Hours of Work - any disputes over scheduling of hours will be put to one of two agreed expedited arbitrators within 14 days of the issue arising to provide for a speedy resolution.
Management doing excessive bargaining unit work - any disputes over scheduling of hours will be put to one of two agreed expedited arbitrators within 14 days of the issue arising to provide for a speedy resolution.
Training Hours - training hours are to scheduled over and above the regular scheduled hours. This should ensure that new employees receive good training without overburdening existing employees.
Wage Increases - Effective July 1st, 1999 the start and maximum rates and all employees individual rate of pay will increase $ .15 per hour. Effective July 1st , 2000 the start and maximum rates and all employees individual rate of pay will increase $ .25 per hour. These increases are in addition to any performance pay increases.
Based on the average rate of $ 8.60 per hour, the $ .40 per hour increase over the 2 year term of the agreement constitutes an average increase of 4.7%, which represents in increase in purchasing power relative to anticipated inflation. Because the wage increase is effective July 1st you can expect a retroactive payment for all hours worked from July 1st times $ .15 per hour.
‘Gwen Groening’, ‘Paul Kay’, ‘Vince Reckzin Jr.’ and ‘Jef Keighley’ - National Representative