“Fight for what is right:” Mayor Ed Gainey is among the supporters of Starbucks Unionization Push – CBS Pittsburgh

By: Erika Stanish

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Starbucks workers in Bloomfield are pushing to become the first in the state to unionize.

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“This is what the world has been waiting for,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said at Saturday morning’s rally.

Employees and city leaders made themselves heard, urging Liberty Avenue Starbucks to be the first to unionize.

“Start fighting for what’s right, make sure we have a town where we can unionize,” Gainey continued. “To stand up and be able to say we don’t tolerate working conditions that aren’t right for people to fight for what’s right, for a living wage.”

Mayor Gainey was among a group of supporters who encouraged her to organize, and doing so would help make Pittsburgh the most welcoming, safe, and diverse city in America.

A place where everyone can develop and everyone has opportunities.

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“Today we come to you because I know you are creating a better world,” Gainey said.

The Bloomfield site and another in Oakland join a national wave of attempts to unionise.

Their demands are simple: they want safer working conditions and a better livelihood.

In the past week alone, 20 charges of unfair labor practices have been filed against Starbucks.

“People working for employment reasons to make sure we have the right to organize to create working conditions that are good for everyone,” Gainey said.

Starbucks has claimed in recent months that they would prefer to discuss these matters without forming unions.

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It could all come to a vote later this month.