STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED
WHEREAS, all workers need to make a decent, family-supporting wage regardless of what kind of work they do, together with full coverage health insurance, paid time off and a predictable schedule that allows them to plan the rest of their lives;
WHEREAS, Union representation is the best way to secure these things, therefore all workers need to have a union;
WHEREAS, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Starbucks has been cutting workers’ hours nationwide in a deliberate union- busting campaign;
WHEREAS, people wanting to stand in solidarity with these workers can say the statement “Union Yes – Union Strong” when making an order at any Starbucks; and
WHEREAS, the wave of organizing at Starbucks stores now sweeping the country is an inspiring move towards rebuilding the labor movement that is needed to reshape working people’s lives, so that we can truthfully say that we work to live instead of living just to work.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) stand in solidarity with Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) organizing efforts;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL pledge its support to the unions currently striving to build union representation across the coffee shop and cafe industry;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL call on its members to sign the “No Contract, No Coffee! Pledge” and to part in the national day of action;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL call on any elected representatives who accepts union funding to move and pass resolutions at the city, county, state, and national level, calling on the Starbucks Corporation to cease its union busting activities and recognize the union immediately at every store whose employees request it, based on card check recognition; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.
- Resolution ID: HHS-24-33
- Sponsored by: Sen. Karla May (MO)
- Policy Committee: Labor and Workforce Development (LWD)
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER LEGISLATION FOR ALL WORKERS
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is committed to the health and well-being of all citizens, and recognizes that African Americans and communities of color have historically had less access to quality mental health services;
WHEREAS, there has been a dramatic increase over the past few years in the number of mental injury cases for workers, including but not limited to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
WHEREAS, according to the National Institutes of Health research has suggested that African American and Latino adults may develop PTSD at higher rates than White adults, and that the clinical course of PTSD in these minority groups is poor, and that one factor that may contribute to higher prevalence and poorer outcome in these groups are sociocultural factors and racial stressors, such as experiences with discrimination;
WHEREAS, in some states, all psychological injuries are covered, while in others only PTSD is covered and other mental injuries are neglected, and in some states cover mental injuries triggered only by trauma, while others cover mental injury triggered by both traumatic and nontraumatic stressors; and
WHEREAS, some states rule out altogether any chronic mental stress that develops gradually and cumulatively over time.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) call for minimum standards in the United States for presumptive legislation covering mental occupational injury for:
- All workers suffer mental injury;
- All scientifically recognized types of mental injury, including, but not limited to, post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
- Workplace stressors that cause both chronic psychological injuries (developed gradually and cumulatively over time in response to a series of events or multiple exposures to workplace stressors) and acute mental injury (the result of one single, sudden, discrete, traumatic workplace, or work-related event);
- Both traumatic and non-traumatic workplace stress triggers (stress in response to continuous or multiple exposures to significant workplace stressors that do psychological harm but do not rise to the level of trauma);
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.
- Resolution ID: HHS-24-34
- Sponsored by: Sen. Karla May (MO)
- Policy Committee: Labor and Workforce Development (LWD)
PROTECTING UNION JOBS AND FOOD ACCESS
WHEREAS, grocery stores employ more than 1.3 million workers across the United States;
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store workers risked their health and safety to ensure that our nation’s food supply was safe, grocery store shelves remained stocked, and pharmacies continued to distribute medication;
WHEREAS, access to healthy food is a significant problem for millions of Americans and overwhelmingly impacts low-income urban communities, rural communities, and communities of color;
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Black (9.2 percent) and Latinx (7 percent) households are disproportionately impacted by very low food security, with rates in 2022 double the rate of White households (4 percent);
WHEREAS, the food insecurity rate is highest in the South (11.4 percent), followed by the Midwest (9.9 percent), West (9.7 percent), and Northeast (8.8 percent);
WHEREAS, during the pandemic, grocery stores saw record profits;
WHEREAS, in October 2022, Kroger, and Albertsons, two of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, announced their intent to merge;
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is concerned that this merger could result in layoffs and higher prices for consumers and will further worsen the food desert crisis; and
WHEREAS, NBCSL is committed to the protection and empowerment of Black workers and workers of color.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)call on Kroger and Albertsons to ensure that the proposed merger is beneficial to workers, the community, and consumers by ensuring the continued long-term employment, benefits, and bargaining rights for workers, the viability of all resulting entities, and no increase in the prevalence of food deserts in any community; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.
- Resolution ID: HHS-24-35
- Sponsored by: Sen. Karla May (MO)
- Policy Committee: Labor and Workforce Development (LWD)