Democratic Socialists of America – Columbia Chapter & Columbia Workers Assembly on the Amazon & Starbucks Strikes

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: December 25, 2024 

Contact: dsaofcolumbia@gmail.com and/or midlandsworkersassociation@gmail.com 

Democratic Socialists of America - Columbia Chapter
& Columbia Workers Assembly on the Amazon & Starbucks Strikes

Columbia residents may notice that their Amazon packages are delayed.  

Their go-to Starbucks may not be open for a mid-Christmas shopping PSL pick-me-up.

From December 20-Christmas eve, frontline workers at two of America’s largest brands are on strike.

After months of bargaining and Starbucks Workers United’s earnest attempts to negotiate, Starbucks has been offering flippant and disrespectful economic offers.

Within the past few weeks, Starbucks offered all retail Partners the equivalent maternity leave of corporate Partners; 12 weeks.  This wasn’t a Starbucks-originated offering.  It was only after a bargaining delegate asked Starbucks’ negotiators “why is my time with my newborn ⅓ as important than yours”.  Bargaining Partners described the room as washed over with silence.  Wins for union workers are wins for all workers.  Starbucks still managed to come back with a 17 cent raise offer.  It was at that moment that Partners knew collective action had to be taken.

Furthermore, a condition of bargaining was for Starbucks to settle all outstanding litigation, including unfair labor practices and lawsuits.  Since the inception of Starbucks union busting, they are responsible for millions of dollars in backpay, fines, and lawsuits.  Starbucks has been dragging its feet on every facet they initially agreed to.

The very institution of unionism is credibly threatened with the new president’s pro-Wall Street and pro-fascism agenda.  Project 2025, the handbook for Trump’s puppeteers, includes language with intent to

• Improve employer rights to decertify unions
• Decentralize labor standards and regulations in favor of state-level laws
• OSHA and Fair Labor Standards Act negotiable rather than settled law
• Eliminate pensions

The ruling class is methodically & slowly eroding away our once-inalienable rights to fund fascism and human extortion.  

When will working people align their needs and interests with their neighbor, rather than with people who spew rhetoric.

South Carolina prides itself on being the lowest union density state in the country.  It’s why BMW makes all of their SUVs in the upstate, why Boeing makes every 787 in Charleston, and why Scout is choosing Blythewood to produce its electric cars that the assembly line workers will only dream to afford.  In his state of the state earlier this year, McMaster said he would “fight to the gates of hell” to protect South Carolina from “destructive impacts of union infiltration”

Starbucks, Amazon, BMW, Boeing, Michelin, Volvo, Lockheed Martin, and Scout workers are your neighbors and your fellow worker.  Don’t all of us deserve to live prosperously and provide for your loved ones?