Support Starbucks Strikers

Workers at two Starbucks locations on the east side of Ann Arbor, Glencoe Crossing on Washtenaw and Carpenter Road (between Lowe's and Home Depot), are on strike. The union members are asking for more predictable hours and better staffing at peak times. They join thousands of striking Starbucks Worker United members across the United States.

For his first year on the job, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol commuted from his house in southern California to the Seattle office three days a week—on a company-funded private jet. Meanwhile, the baristas who actually make our coffee can't predict how many shifts they will receive, or whether they will pick up enough hours to qualify for benefits.

Big business is one of the pillars supporting Trump's fascist regime. By supporting the labor movement, we build the strength of our resistance movement and protect our neighbors. In Ann Arbor, union members are sharing news about the Starbucks strike on the Glencoe Crossing and Carpenter Road SWU Instagrams. You can contribute to the Glencoe Crossing strike fund or Carpenter Road strike fund on GoFundMe.

Union members are asking us not to give Starbucks money while they're on strike. Fortunately, Ann Arbor has many great coffee shops! Here are three places to try.

Socotra

Socotra Coffee House is tucked into a strip mall at 3130 Packard. The shop is named after the Yemeni island of Socotra, in the Indian Ocean. In addition to traditional espresso drinks, you'll find spiced coffee, tea, and Yemeni pastries, including multiple kinds of pistachio cake. The big tables and generous hours (open till 10 PM on weeknights, midnight Friday and Saturday) make Socotra a great place to spread out a textbook or play board games with a friend.

Hyperion

Hyperion Coffee Company is a coffee roaster with branches in Ypsilanti and downtown Ann Arbor. To develop their holiday blend, they worked with coffee growers in Guatemala and Honduras. We love their classy outer-space-themed logo and the rye tea cake. A visit to Hyperion always makes us feel smarter!

RoosRoast

We adore RoosRoast's bold murals and breakfast burritos. Who wouldn't be won over by some Lobster Butter Love? If you're driving, look for the location at 1155 Rosewood St., just off South Industrial. In addition to serving up honey vanilla lattes, they do a thriving to-go business—this is a good spot to pick up donuts and a 12-cup coffee carafe for your next meeting. There's another RoosRoast location in downtown Ann Arbor.

What's your favorite place to get coffee in Ann Arbor—without crossing the picket line?