'Revenge of the Rust belt': Starbucks film-maker on Baristas vs Billionaires
Director Mark Mori followed coffee chain workers’ struggle to unionize: ‘These young kids are so inspirational’
TL;DR
- Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York, launched a union-organizing campaign in 2021.
- A new documentary, "Baristas vs Billionaires," chronicles these efforts and Starbucks' response.
- Director Mark Mori sees the campaign as a modern parallel to the 1930s labor movement and a "revenge of the Rust belt."
- The film is narrated by Susan Sarandon and produced in part by Alec Baldwin.
- Mori compares the young baristas to Vietnam War activists from the 1960s and 70s, highlighting their struggle with the wealth gap.
- Over 700 Starbucks stores have won union elections since 2021.
- The union is advocating for a $17/hour minimum wage, improved staffing, and workplace protections.
- Starbucks has been found to have committed over 500 labor law violations.
- Starbucks states it offers competitive pay, benefits, and career growth opportunities.