Most of us are economically compelled to work when we are sick. We need earned sick leave proportional to hours worked - the more hours worked, the more sick leave earned. Through 1999, on average, a new Starbucks store opened every 16 hours of every day of every week to bring the world wide total to about 2,200 stores. Virtually all of Starbucks' phenomenal grow has been financed out of phenomenal revenues. The hard work of hourly Baristas, both union and non-union, have helped make Starbucks the tremendous financial success story that it is.
Hourly employees deserve genuine respect and to share in that success.
The nature of work has changed dramatically over the last several decades. As we approach the new millennium there are relatively fewer jobs in the resource, manufacturing and construction sectors and relatively more jobs in the service sectors. With some exceptions, service sector jobs generally pay lower wages, provides fewer benefits and generates lower tax revenues than is the case in the more traditional sectors of our economy. This directly impacts service sector workers. It also indirectly impacts the whole of our society.