Speaker 4: All those in favor say I am opposed. Say no. The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. Mr. Clarke. Please read Doc at 05500550.
Speaker 1: Councilors Braden and Flynn offered the following resolution in support of the Greater Boston Starbucks Workers United.
Speaker 4: The chair recognizes Councilor Graydon. Thank thinking about the chair.
Speaker 7: I moved to suspend the rules and add Counselor Baucus, an original co-sponsor. Please.
Speaker 4: Seeing no opposition councilor balk is added as a third co-sponsor.
Speaker 7: Thank you. From Starbucks to Amazon and soon enough, Apple, we may be seeing the most significant moment in the country's labor movement where the pandemic is not only shifting the future of work, but workers are building collective power for a unified voice and better workplace conditions. 16 Starbucks stores in Massachusetts have filed to unionize, including seven right here in Boston, three in Allston, Brighton and the rest in the Longwood Back Bay downtown and the South End. Two weeks ago, the stores at 13 of four Commerce in Allston and Coolidge Corner in Brookline, voted unanimously to become the first two Starbucks to unionize in Massachusetts. And next Tuesday, May 3rd in the and in the election vote count for three more stores in Allston, Brighton and in Longwood. While the concentration of Starbucks stores organizing in my district, my office has has been repeatedly contacted by regional corporate representatives. However, like many across the country, Starbucks workers have reported to my office the aggressive union busting tactics, including a captive audience, and want 1 to 1 meetings with misrepresented misinformation, as well as increased surveillance and corporate personnel traveling in from outside the region to put pressure on staff not to unionize. I want to acknowledge and extend my support to the staff, to the Starbucks partners and union organizers who are in the chamber with us today. Thank you so much. And I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting this resolution to support the Greater Boston Starbucks Workers United and call on the company to drop their union busting and election interference. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Speaker 4: Thank you. The chair recognizes Councilor Flynn.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Edwards. Thank you, Councilor Edwards, and thank you. Council president for allowing me to join and join you on this important matter. This body has a long history of supporting the rights of working men and women across greater Boston, across our our state as well. I have two Starbucks in my district, one in the South End and one in downtown Boston that are going to prepare for hopefully to become part of the union. Councilor Braden highlighted some of the strong tactics management is using to discourage workers from joining a union. Boston has always had a Boston has always been a proud union and Labor City. And we stand here with the workers because these workers are our neighbors, our family through our Little League coach. They might not be they might not be known to us today, but it's important that their voices are heard. More of these restaurants and more of these shops are opening up Starbucks across the city. But it's important that they have an opportunity to earn a decent wage, to have some health care, to have dignity and retirement, and to be treated fairly and treated with respect. So I just want to say thank you to my colleague Council Braden, for allowing me to join her. But I also want to thank my colleagues here in the city council that have long supported the rights of workers to organize here across the city and really across the country as well. Thank you.
Speaker 4: The chair recognizes cancer, but.
Speaker 5: I think we all know that the reality of unionization in America is a two track story in which we have a few industries and the public sector in which there's still some strength in unionization. And then just a lot of private industries where we see a dramatic decline. And the only way we're going to turn that around is if we get unionization of the really large corporate conglomerates across the country, especially in the service industry. And so I just think that it is I mean, the two most important things going on for like actually having people power rather than corporate power run the country are probably the Starbucks and Amazon unionization drives that are happening right now. And it's incumbent upon all of us to support those efforts wherever they hit in our patch here in the city of Boston. And so I'm strongly in support of the Starbucks workers who are attempting to unionize in my district, District eight, and will be of of any who come forward and would be of Dunkin Donuts workers or any other large industry where workers want to say, hey, we've had enough and we really need a seat at the table and and good, strong, equitable working conditions. So. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Speaker 4: Thank you. Does anyone else wish to speak on the matter? Does anyone wish to add their name? Mr. Carr, could you please add Councilor Baker, Councilor Flaherty, Councilor Laura Cancel Division Councilor me here. Councilor Murphy and Councilor World. Councilors Braedon Flynn and box expansion are the rules and adoption of docket 0550. All those in favor say I all oppose. Say no. The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilor Edwards. We're onto we're on two personalities. Mr. Clerk, please read your card. 055 to please a0552 council offline for council of which you are six suspension of the rules passage of docket zero 5 to 2 all those in favor say aye.
Resolution in support of Greater Boston Starbucks Workers United.
On motion of Councilors Breadon and Flynn, rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Bok as a co-sponsor.