The following post is by Payday Report's Community Engagement Editor Amos Wolf, who's based here in Pittsburgh
On Saturday, with Pittsburgh bracing for an arctic blast, forty baristas gathered for a picket line in front of the Bloomfield Starbucks to complete the first month of their strike. They stayed warm with hot cocoa, coffee, and line dancing lessons.
Line dancing might not seem like an essential part of the strategy for a historic strike that includes over 130 cities, 180 stores, Starbucks distribution centers, and headquarters, but fun is key to keeping Starbucks workers going in the uphill fight against a coffee giant.
Strike baristas picketing and dancing in front of a closed store in Pittsburgh (Amos Wolf)
Baristas like Grant Workings appreciate the chance to boost morale. They have been leafleting and picketing for five hours at a time, out in the cold, trying to educate customers about the boycott. It's often grueling.
“We need to keep in mind that we’re not seeing all the people who are supporting us, because they’re not showing up, and it’s hard to quantify what you don’t see every day,” says Grant. “This has been a really good opportunity here with the line dancers, to see that not only are we getting the support of the general public, but there are organizations that are here to support us and keep our spirits high.”
“To my knowledge the contract is largely complete, especially the non-economic package,” shares Workings. “The stuff that’s already been TA-ed (Temporary Agreement) has been incredibly encouraging.”
Now they’re trying to push Starbucks to offer acceptable proposals on compensation. “It’s that economic package that’s going to hit Starbucks in its pocket and that’s what they’re really dragging their feet about.”
Striking workers kept their feet moving with dance instructor Annah Darling leading kicks and grapevines, as passing cars honked in support, including Pittsburgh municipal workers.
A sole dissenter jeered from across the street, “I just want coffee!”
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Deb Gross joined the picket line because she believes it’s about way more than coffee, “These workers are marching to make all of us have a better world and we’re really, really proud that Bloomfield was the first store to organize (in Pennsylvania).”
Gross says that having fun on the picket line was crucial to how the labor movement was built in Pittsburgh.
“If you look at the history of Pittsburgh you know that unions a hundred years ago had union halls and dances and dinners and they supported each other. It’s ok to have fun when you’re fighting for fairness.”
