Perhaps it’s because I have a fondness for local coffee outlets that support cycling, such as a certain place in Arlington ( http://www.javashack.com/homepage.html ), or maybe it’s because my espresso machine at home has spoiled me; but, after the article noting the passing of Kurt Vonnegut, and last night’s hockey scores, I was immediately drawn to this piece on the Starbucks strikers in this morning’s Washington Post:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041102322.html?hpid=features1&hp. 

Despite the fact that some of us frequent a certain Starbucks outlet for chess and various coffee products, this union action is surely worth noting on this blog.  It’s also worth noting that the specific union involved is the Industrial Workers of the World.

The IWW.  The Wobblies! 

This is the union of songwriter Joe Hill (writer of such gems as “The Preacher and the Slave:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27ll_Be_Pie_in_the_Sky_When_You_Die_%28That%27s_a_Lie%29), Eugene V. Debbs, and Mother Jones.  And, it’s a union that remains faithful to its radical roots with its true support of the rank-and-file, as opposed to those who would purport to represent the rank-and-file.

-- posted by Chris