Montclair Should Support Starbucks Union, Councilman Says: Op-Ed

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following op-ed comes from Montclair Town Council member Bob Russo, who is also a vice president for higher education with the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey and a representative with the Montclair State University Adjunct Faculty Union. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Starbucks Workers United union has successfully organized the staff at Montclair’s Church Street Starbucks to improve services to customers, as well as working conditions for employees. I represented AFTNJ and the Montclair State University Adjunct Faculty Union in support of their efforts. The leaders of the national Starbucks Workers United union spoke at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Boston last month. I also addressed the 2,000 delegates from all over the country, asking them to join together to help these mostly younger workers form their union.

The key message to all those who work for minimal wages and benefits in this very wealthy nation is that by uniting together in their workplace they can achieve improvements in their careers and living conditions, as all of us have in the fields of education and other professions, as well as in the industries that have made this country successful. The American Federation of Teachers has now affiliated with the national AAUP (American Association of University Professors), bringing all college and university faculty under one union banner. Starbucks has a long way to go in achieving a universally recognized union of their workers, but we will stand with them as they battle the resistance of corporate leaders who do not want to share their growing profits with the very baristas and staff who make Starbucks a successful company and brand.

I hope our Montclair community will stand with these young leaders, including James Cruz, who I traded t-shirts with recently at their rally on Church and Park, and tell the managers and owners of Starbucks to treat their employees fairly, in the spirit of Montclair’s progressive tradition.

• See related article: Montclair Starbucks Workers Unionize, Join 3 Other Stores In NJ

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