Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" FROM THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, HARVARD MADE A LOT HEADLINES THIS WEEK WHEN IT ANNOUNCED IT'S PUTTING $100 MILLION TOWARD ATONING FOR ITS PAST TIES TO SLAVERY.

BUT, ARE THEY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

ROBIN RUE SIMMONS, WHO LED THE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-FUNDED REPARATIONS PROGRAM IN THE U.S., AND LEE PELTON, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE BOSTON FOUNDATION, JOIN ME.

THEN LATER, TWO OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZERS PUSHING FOR UNIONIZATION AT STARBUCKS, ON THE BACKLASH THEY'RE SEEING AGAINST PRO-UNION EMPLOYEES FROM HIGHER-UPS.

>> Brown: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PUT BEFORE THE PUBLIC THIS WEEK GRIM DETAILS OF ITS MANY TIES TO SLAVERY.

AMONG THE FINDINGS: OVER 150 YEARS, DOZENS OF PROMINENT PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH HARVARD, INCLUDING FOUR OF ITS PRESIDENTS, ENSLAVED MORE THAN 70 INDIVIDUALS.

MOST WERE BLACK, BUT SOME WERE ALSO INDIGENOUS.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, SOME "WORKED AND LIVED ON CAMPUS, WHERE THEY CARED FOR HARVARD PRESIDENTS AND PROFESSORS AND FED GENERATIONS OF HARVARD STUDENTS."

ADDITIONALLY, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE SCHOOL'S MONEY IN THOSE EARLY DAYS CAME FROM DONORS WHO PROFITED FROM SLAVERY INTO THE 19th CENTURY.

AND SEVERAL OF THOSE SLAVEHOLDERS AND BENEFACTORS WITH SLAVERY TIES ARE MEMORIALIZED ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY TODAY.

THE REPORT ALSO LAYS OUT THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT SEVERAL KEY LEADERS AT THE SCHOOL PLAYED IN PROPAGATING SO-CALLED "RACE SCIENCE" AND EUGENICS THEORIES THAT WHITE AMERICANS USED FOR DECADES TO JUSTIFY THE ENSLAVEMENT AND MARGINALIZATION OF BLACK PEOPLE.

TODAY, HARVARD'S MUSEUM COLLECTIONS STILL HOLD MANY ARTIFACTS RELATED TO THOSE ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THE REMAINS OF "AT LEAST 15 INDIVIDUALS OF AFRICAN DESCENT WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ENSLAVED, TWO OF WHOM ALSO HAD INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY."

AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST SOME OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE 130-PLUS PAGE REPORT COMPILED BY A TEAM OF FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCHERS APPOINTED BY HARVARD PRESIDENT LAWRENCE BACOW IN 2019.

THE REPORT ALSO COMES WITH SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH BACOW IS COMMITTING $100 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT.

I'M JOINED BY ROBIN RUE SIMMONS, WHO LED THE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-FUNDED REPARATIONS PROGRAM IN THE U.S., IN EVANSTOWN, ILLINOIS.

SHE'S THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIRSTREPAIR, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT INFORMS LOCAL REPARATIONS ON A NATIONAL SCALE, AND SERVES ON THE NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN REPARATIONS COMMISSION.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY LEE PELTON, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE BOSTON FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS SPEARHEADED ITS OWN SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS ON REPARATIONS.

AND, I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT LEE IS ON THE GBH BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND IS A HARVARD GRAD, WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE BOARD OF HARVARD OVERSEERS AND ON SEVERAL COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES RELATED TO HARVARD'S ACTIVITIES.

WE ALSO INVITED REPRESENTATIVES FROM HARVARD TO JOIN US, BUT THEY DECLINED.

LEE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, ROBIN, REALLY GOOD TO MEET YOU, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO BE HERE, GOOD TO SIGH.

>> Braude: ROBIN, STARTING WITH YOU, WHAT IS YOUR QUICK REACTION ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOUT HARVARD.

>> I WILL TELL YOU I WAS JUST AS HAR VARD SO I WAS AWARE OF THE CULTURE AND INCIDENTS AND COMMITMENT REPARATIONS, TO READ IT I WAS VERY SATISFIED, THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN A FIRST STEP.

A LOT OF WORK AHEAD BUT MAKING A COMMITMENT ON COVERING THEIR OWN EGREGIOUS HISTORY AND COMMITTING TO DOING THAT, THAT IMPORTANT HARD WORK WITH A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS COMMITMENT TO THAT.

ENCOURAGED.

>> Braude: LEE, WERE YOU ENCOURAGED?

>> I WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY REPORT AND A BOLD REPORT.

AND IT WAS REALLY SEARING IN ITS HISTORICAL CRITICISM OF ALL OF WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

AND EVEN MORE THAN THAT, SO YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAVE EFFORT.

IT'S NOT NEW, THIS WHOLE PROCESS BEGAN IN 2007, ACTUALLY.

AND SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S ALL OVER TIME.

>> Braude: ROBIN, YOU-- ROBYN YOU SAID SOMETHING LIKE FIRST STEP, THE HARD WORK IS TO FOLLOW.

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AMENDS.

THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT IS GOING TO BE LEAD BY MARTHA MINUTE OWE, FORMER HEAD OF THE LAW SCHOOL.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE IN EVANSTON WHAT THAT NEXT STEP WOULD BE WHAT SOME FORM OF REPARATIONS WOULD BE, WHAT KIND OF PROCESS DID YOU ENGAGE IN.

>> WELL N DECIDING WHAT REPAIR LOOKS LIKE WE REALLY HAD TO HEAR FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF DISCRIMINATION IN EVANSTON.

SO IT WAS THROUGH COMMUNITY PROCESS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH BEGINNING TO PRESCRIBE REMEDY, FIRST WE HAD TO UNDERSTAND OUR HARM, THE HISTORY OF ANTIBLACKNESS IN EVANSTON SO THAT WE COULD BEGIN TO CRAFT ILLEGAL FRAMEWORK, WORK WITH OUR TAKE HOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND PRESCRIBE REMEDIES AND THEN IMPLEMENT.

SO IT HAS BEEN A PROCESS THAT IS ONGOING.

WE DID HALF IN 2019 AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK.

>> AND WHAT FORM ROBIN, PRIMARILY HAS REPARATIONS TAKEN IN EVANSTON AT LEAST SO FAR?

>> SO FAR WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH A HOUSING INITIATIVE SO A 25,000 DOLLAR DIRECT BENEFIT FOR BUILDING WEALTH THROUGH HOME EQUITY BUT WE HAVE A COMMITMENT THROUGH HOUSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IN OUR RESOLUTION.

>> AND LEE, I MENTIONED THE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT AND THERE IS NO SPECIFIC COMMITMENT TO CASH PAYMENTS AS A REFERENCE TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH.

SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL MEMORIAL.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A RELUCTANCE IN LOTS OF THESE DISCUSSIONS TO GO THE CASH PAYMENT DIRECTION.

SHOULD THERE BE THAT RELUCTANCE?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE SHOULD BE.

IT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE REPORT DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WILL BE DIRECT REPARATIONS OR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS TO STUDENT, ONLY THAT THE SIM PLEMENTATION COMMITTEE WILL WORK TO MOVE FROM RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACTION.

AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REALLY VERY, THE SPECIFICS OF MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE REALLY BROAD AND LARGE AND EXPENSIVE IN THEIR SCOPE.

AND IF I HAVE ONE WORRY ABOUT THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION IT'S WHETHER OR NOT YOU KNOW HARVARD HAS, YOU KNOW, SET OUT TO DO MORE THAN THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH.

>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO STEP BACK FROM HARVARD IF I CAN FOR A MINUTE.

THE HOPE IS THAT HARVARD BECOMES A LEADER ON SOME FRONT BUT THERE IS A LOT OF CONVINCING ROBYN AND LEE THAT SEEMS TO ME NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THERE WAS A NATIONAL POLL KCTED BY UMASS AMHERST AND WCVB NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND THERE IS ABOUT CASH PAYMENTS, DO YOU THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE CASH PAYMENTS TO THE DEFENDANTS OF SLAVES.

AS YOU SEE, 61 PERCENT NO, 38 PERCENT YES, THIS IS IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

AND THEN THEY BROKE IT DOWN BY RACE.

WHITE RESPONDENTS 28 PERCENT YES, BLACK RESPONDENTS, 84 PERCENT YES.

EVEN TO USE YOUR TERM ROBYN, IF PEOPLE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF ANTIBLACKNESS IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS CONVINCED THAT SOME AMENDS NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR THAT.

WOULD YOU NOT AGREE?

>> I AGREE.

BUT I REMAIN ENCOVERAGED THAT WE ARE SEEING EVEN MORE SUPPORT FOR REPARATIONS-- REPARATION, WE'RE SEEINGSING THE SUPPORT IN CONGRESS OF HR40 HAVING MORE COSPONSORS THAN EVER.

SO I AGREE THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> Braude: AND BY THE WAY PRESIDENT BIDEN I BELIEVE IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO EVER SIGN ON TO ANYTHING AROUND REPARATIONS, SPECIFICALLY THAT COMMISSION, THAT COMMITTEE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN EVANSTON TO CRACKS PEOPLE'S MINDS OPEN TO WHICH WEREN'T OPEN BEFORE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO PRESIDENT BIDEN HASN'T SIGNED ON.

HE SAID HE SUPPORTS THE STUDY SO WE ARE HOPING TO SEE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER POSSIBLY BUT WHAT WE DID IN EVANSTON WAS REALLY WITH OUR VALUES, OUR VALUES STATED THAT WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO ENJOY THE SAME LIVABILITY AND STANDARD OF LIFE.

WE WANT TO REPAIR OUR PAST AND WE HAD TO DO THAT WITH A TANGIBLE LEGISLATE-- LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT COULD RESULT WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND THAT WAS REPARATIONS, SO NOT ONLY DID I SHARE T IS IN LINE WITH OUR VALUES BUT ALSO OUR REPARATIONS WOULD SUPPORT AN UPLIFT THE ENTIRE CITY AND THERE WAS A GREAT REPORT DONE, THE COST OF SEGREGATION REPORT THAT WAS MODELED ON CHICAGO AND I WAS ABLE TO USE THAT AS A REFERENCE FOR WHAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR EVANSTON.

>> I KNOW ARE YOU ENGAGED IN THIS DISCUSSION, INTENTLY, IN THE BOSTON FOUNDATION.

I'M ALMOST EMBARRASSED TO SAY THESE WORDS BUT THIS IS WHAT ONE HEARS FROM I THINK THE NOS ON THESE POLLS IS WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?

WHY SHOULD I BE CONTRIBUTING, I THINK IN EVANSTON IT IS CANNABIS SALES TAX REVENUE, WHY SHOULD I CONTRIBUTE IN ANYWAY TO MAKING AMENDS TO REPAIRING THIS, HI NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

WHAT IS ONE SAY TO THAT VOICE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE FIRST THING TO SAY, I KNOW ROBYN KNOW THIS VERY WELL, THAT REPARATIONS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS.

IT COULD BE REHABILITATION.

RESTITUTION, IMENGS.

A KIND OF RECONCILIATION LIKE IN SOUTH AFRICA, MANY YEARS AGO WITH THE GUARANTEE THAT THESE HARMS WILL NEVER BE REPEATED.

BUT THE FIRST THING THAT ONE MUST DO IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESCRUK TEURL, SYSTEMIC SOURCES THAT LEAD TO THE INEQUITIES THAT MANY FOLKS ESPECIALLY FOLKS OF COLOR STILL LABOR UNDER TODAY.

AND SO I THINK, SO WHAT WE NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT PERSONAL, THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU, YOU ARE NOT AT FAULT HERE.

THIS IS ABOUT THAT WE GOT HERE, IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT STVMENT NOT BY ACCIDENT.

AND SO THIS IS THE NATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S RESPONDING TO NATIONAL ACTS OF RACISM AND RAISIZED DISCRIMINATION.

>> YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF MAKING THE CONNECTION, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS, THE SUMMARY OF HARVARD'S FINDINGS.

ONE THING WAS VERY HELPFUL WAS THEY MENTIONED THAT THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN OUR SCHOOL, MEANING AT HARVARD CONTINUED INTO THE 19 '60S, I MAY HAVE THE NUMBERS SLIGHTLY OFF BUT THEY TALK ABOUT NINE BLACK MEN BEING IN THE FRESHMAN CLASS OF 1200 AND THEY GO ON TO SAY AND THAT NUMBER NINE IS PATH ETICALLY SMALL, THOSE ARE MY WORD, NOT THEIRS, IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER IN THE PRIOR SEVERAL DECADES.

THAT IS PRETTY POWERFUL STUFF, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLAWED.

WE STILL SEE THE LEGACIES OF SLAVERY THAT ARE BEING PASSED DOWN AND CONTEMPORARY IN MODERN FORMS OF ANTIBLACKNESS.

AND SO IT IS POWERFUL THAT THEY HAVE DOG NOO-- DUG INTO THEIR OWN HISTORY AND ARE BEING TRANSPARENT.

AND I HOPE THAT OTHER INSTITUTIONS WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

>> Braude: I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE OR SO LEFT FOR EACH OF YOU.

I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.

THE LEGACY IN 2022, I THINK IF YOU WERE TO STOP THE AVERAGE PERSON ON THE STREET, I AM NOT SURE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IT.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY IT A BIT FOR THEM?

>> THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY TODAY.

>> OH, I SEE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT FROM HOME OWNERSHIP AND YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER GENERATIONS THAT HAVE PREVENTED CERTAIN FOLK, FOLKS OF COLOR FROM HAVING HOME OWNERSHIP.

WE CAN LOOK AT THE WEALTH GAP, NATIONALLY.

A 10-1 RATIO NATIONALLY IN OUR CITY.

IT IS 250,000 FOR WHITE RESIDENTSES AND EIGHT BUCKS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS.

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

AND SLAVERY IS PART OF IT BUT ST NOT THE ONLY PART OF IT.

THERE ARE OTHER KINDS OF ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN BY GOVERNMENTS AND BANKS AND APPRAISALS OF HOMES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH THAT CONTRIBUTEDDED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> ROBYN, I ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT CAN HARVARD CONSIDERING THE BULLY PULPIT IT HAS CAN THAT SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS IF THEY GET IT RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THEY NOTEDDED IN THEIR REPORT, I THINK I HEARD LEE SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT THE FIRST BUT IT IS HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND THEY HAVE MADE A HUGE STATEMENT.

I THINK IT TO BE A CALL TO ACTION TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO BEGIN THEIR ROAD TO REPAIR, EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE.

ROBYN RYU SIMMONS, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK, LEE PELTON, GREAT TO SIGH, THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, WHEN TWO STARBUCKS LOCATIONS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK OFFICIALLY VOTED TO UNIONIZE THEIR STORES BACK IN DECEMBER, IT KICKED OFF A WAVE OF UNIONIZING EFFORTS AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS LATER, EMPLOYEES AT AROUND 200 STARBUCKS CAFES IN MORE THAN 30 STATES HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO FORM A UNION, INCLUDING 16 MASSACHUSETTS LOCATIONS.

TWO OF THOSE, ONE IN ALLSTON AND ONE IN BROOKLINE, HAVE ALREADY HELD OFFICIAL VOTES, AND FIVE OF THEM ARE SET TO VOTE ON UNION EFFORTS NEXT MONTH.

BUT THOSE EFFORTS HAVEN'T COME WITHOUT LOSSES.

STARBUCKS HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF FIRING SEVERAL WORKERS WHO'D BEEN PUSHING UNION EFFORTS.

AND, AS GBH'S TORI BEFORD HAS REPORTED, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WORKERS ARE BEING DRIVEN TO QUIT DUE TO HOURS BEING CUT, INCREASES IN WRITEUPS, AND CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM UPPER MANAGEMENT ABOUT THE SUPPOSED DANGERS OF UNIONIZATION-- PRESSURE WHICH APPEARS TO COME FROM THE VERY TOP.

BECAUSE, WHILE FOUNDING C.E.O.

HOWARD SCHULTZ, WHO RETURNED TO THE POSITION EARLIER THIS MONTH, HAS LONG PEGGED HIMSELF AS A "FRIEND TO HIS EMPLOYEES," RECENTLY, HE HAD THIS TO SAY TO HIS MANAGERS, ABOUT HIS "FRIENDS" LOOKING TO UNIONIZE.

>> AND NOW, A NEW OUTSIDE FORCE THAT'S TRYING DESPERATELY TO DISRUPT OUR COMPANY.

MY FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF STARBUCKS IS BASED ON MY FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU.

NOT SOME OUTSIDE FORCE THAT'S GOING TO DISRUPT WHAT WE ARE.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED NOW BY KYLAH CLAY, ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZERS FOR THE STATEWIDE STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED MOVEMENT, AND JULIA BERKMAN, AN ORGANIZER FOR A STARBUCKS STORE IN WABAN.

WE ALSO INVITED STARBUCKS TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN US.

THEY DECLINED, BUT SENT THIS STATEMENT: "WE ARE LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM THE PARTNERS IN THESE STORES, AS WE ALWAYS DO ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'VE BEEN CLEAR IN OUR BELIEF THAT WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER AS PARTNERS, WITHOUT A UNION BETWEEN US, AND THAT CONVICTION HAS NOT CHANGED.

WE RESPECT OUR PARTNER'S RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND ARE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE N.L.R.B.

PROCESS."

KYLAH, JULIA, THANKSES SO MUCH FOR JOINING MY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Braude: KYLAH, STASHTDS WITH YOU, WHY DID YOU DECIDE UNIONIZATION WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR YOUR WORKPLACE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT MUCH NOJTS KNOWLEDGES ABOUT UNIONS PRIOR TO BEGINNING THIS PROCESS AT MY STORE.

BUT IT WAS REALLY SEEING WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN BUFFALO THAT GOT US TO FIRST LOOK INTO THIS.

SEEING HOW CORPORATE WAS RESPONDING TO THE EFFORTS OVER THERE AND HOW QUICKLY THEY HAD pIS STARTED THEIR UNION-BUSTIN CAMPAIGN.

IT WAS VERY ALARMING FOR US, AND SO THAT WAS WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING TOO IT AND REALIZING THAT THIS WHOLE TIME WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VOICE IN THE COMPANY THAT WE WORK FOR.

AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT HAS BEEN THE RALLYING CRY FOR ALL OF US IS WE JUST WANT A VOICE IN OUR COMPANY.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOU, JULIA.

>> YES, I THINK FOR ME, HAVE I BEEN WITH STARBUCKS FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS.

>> Braude: WOW.

>> AND IT WAS REALLY AN EYE OPENER WHEN I RECEIVED A RAISE BUT THE RAISE I RECEIVED ONLY LEAD TO MY MAKING APPROXIMATELY $1 MORE THAN NEW PEOPLE THAT WERE HIRED.

BUT IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY IT WAS ALSO ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE DEMOCRACY IN THE WORKPLACE AND WANTING TO HAVE A VOICE IN TERMS OF WAGES.

IN TERMS OF SEE SEN YORITY AND IN TERMS OF HOW WELL STAFFED-- AND JUST IN TERMS OF HAVING A VOICE IN OUR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT IN GENERAL FOR BOTH NEW HIRES AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR A LONG TIME LIKE MYSELF.

>> Braude: WE SHOULD SAY BY THE WAY, IN KYLAH'S LOCATION, ALWAYSTON, THEY WON A UNION VOTE AND IN JULIA'S LOCATION IN WABAN THEY FILED FOR AN ELECTION WHICH WILL HAPPEN IN MAY.

KYLAH, HOWARD SCHULTZ CAME BACK AND SAID OTHER THINGS LIKE WE MUST CONTINUE TO EARN THE TRUST OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY, HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A STRANGE WAY OF DOING IT.

BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT HE SAID TO FELLOW BARISTA AND LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ATTEMPTING TO UNIONIZE, QUOTE, IF YOU HATE STARBUCKS SO MUCH, WHY DON'T YOU GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

KYLAH, DO YOU HATE STARBUCKS?

>> I, YOU KNOW, I FOUND THAT COMMENT BY HOWARD TO BE COMPLETELY INSULTING.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING IN HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK TO ORGANIZE THEIR WORKPLACE ARE CLEARLY NOT DOING IT BECAUSE THEY HATE THEIR JOB.

THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR JOB.

AND THAT IS HOW I FEEL.

I LOVE MY JOB.

I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS.

I LOVE MY COWORKERS IN THE STORE THAT I GET TO WORK AT.

BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

AND I THINK THAT THAT TAKES LISTENING TO THE PARTNERS FIRST.

>> Braude: KYLAH, YOU HAVE A COWORKER WHO I ANY LOVES HER JOB TOO, I LOOKED AT THE LINKEDIN ACCOUNT FOR YOU JULIA AND YOU SAID I LOVEMAKING LATTES, WORKING ALONGSIDE AN AMAZING STAFF AND SERVING CUSTOMERS.

I AM WITH KYLAH, IT DOESN'T GET MUCH MORE INSULTING TO SUGGEST THAT IF PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY AT A WORKPLACE, THE BOSS TELLS THEM WHY DON'T YOU QUIT AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO WHAT SCHULTZ HAD TO SAY.

>> ME?

>> Braude: YEAH, JULIA.

>> I FOUND IT VERY INSULTING AND IT REALLY DOESN'T REFLECT THE ATTITUDE OF MY COWORKERS AT ALL.

I REALLY, I LOVE MY COWORKERS.

I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE MY FAMILY AND I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS.

HAVE I KNOWN SOME OF THEM FOR ABOUT A DECADE.

AND HAVE I SEEN THEIR KIDS GROW UP AND GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

I KNOW THEIR DOGS.

I KNOW WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING.

>> Braude: THAT'S GREAT.

>> AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR STORE WAS CLOSED, I MISSED THEM.

SO I SEE IT AS VERY LEGITIMATE AND POSITIVE TO WANT TOIM PROVE YOUR WORKPLACE AND STAY DOING WORK THAT YOU LIKE WITH PEOPLE YOU LIKE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, KYLAH, I'M INTERESTED FROM BOTH OF YOU TO SEE WHAT KIND OF BLOW BACK YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THE EMPLOYER, FROM CORPORATE AS YOU CALL IT, THE SUPPORT MANAGERS I GUESS, SUPPORT PARTNERS, ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IS QUOTED IN THE "BOSTON GLOBE" KYLAH AS SAYING A SUPPORT PARTNER SAYING TO HER IF I WERE IN YOUR POSITION, I WOULD BE SCARED.

WHAT KIND OF TACTICS, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE HAVE YOU GOTTEN FROM THE EMPLOYER OR DID YOU GET FROM THE EMPLOYER DURING YOUR ORGANIZING EFFORT, KYLAH.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS A VERY COMMON TACTIC THAT THEY HAVE BEEN USING.

WORKING WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STORES THAT HAVE FILED, OR FILED THEIR COMPETITIONS TO UNIONIZE, I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF REALLY HE GREEJUS CONDUCT BY CORPORATE BUT SPECIFICALLY AT MY STORE, MY STORE AND THE OTHER STORE WE ARE BOTH THE FIRST TWO TO FILE AND SO BEING IN DECEMBER WHEN THE CAMPAIGN WAS STILL EARLY THEY REALLY FOCUSED A LOT OF THEIR RESOURCES ON LISTENING SESSIONS AND SENDING THEIR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REGION TO OUR STORE, THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND HOLDING THESE CAPTIVE AUDIENCE SESSIONS WHERE THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY FEED US ANTIUNION PROPAGANDA AND TELL US WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST FOR US.

>> Braude: CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEANING YOU HAD NO CLOIS BUT TO GO, THEY ARE MANDATORY ATTENDANCE MEETINGS RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, HOWEVER THE PROSH WITH THAT WAS THEY ACTUALLY SAID THEY WEREN'T MANDATORY BUT IN THE EARLY PHASES THEY NEVER GAVE US DIRECT LANGUAGE AS TO WHETHER IT WAS REQUIRED OR NOT.

AND THEN WE WERE TOLD IF WE DIDN'T ATTEND THE STORE MEETINGS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO ON AND HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE OR A TWO ON ONE WITH OUR MANAGER IN DISTRICT MANAGER.

>> Braude: SORT OF SOUND MANDATORY TO ME, I SHOULD SAY.

>> YEAH.

>> Braude: KYLAH, HAD YOU EVER SEEN THESE PEOPLE FROM CORPORATE BEFORE YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED A UNION?

>> NO, ACTUALLY.

I HAD NEVER MET THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT PRIOR.

OUR DISTRICT MANAGER WAS RECENTLY HIRED BUT I HADN'T MET HIM EITHER UNTIL WE HAD FILED.

AND OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR, I HAD ACTUALLY MET HER ONCE BUT SHE HAD SPENT THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS UNION BUSTING IN BUFFALO.

SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN HER FOR AWHILE.

>> Braude: AND JULIA, WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAD LEADING UP TO YOUR VOTE IN EARLY MAY, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN TREATED BY THE EMPLOYER?

>> I'M REALLY NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY, BUT IT'S BEEN MILDER IN FASHION AT MY STORE.

I DO REALLY ADMIRE AND LIKE MY MANAGER.

BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

SO HE DID HOLD SOME ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH SOME COWORKERS.

AND I WAS THERE THAT DAY, ALTHOUGH HE HASN'T HELD ONE WITH ME YET AND HE HAS TOLD ME THAT HE RESPECTS THE PROCESS.

BUT I DID OVERHEAR PARTS OF THOSE SESSIONS.

AND PEOPLE WERE BEING TOLD THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER STORE.

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COVER AT ANOTHER STORE.

IN CANADA THE STORES THAT UNIONIZED RECEIVE LOWER WAGES.

ONE COWORKER WAS TOLD THAT SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AS MANY HOURS, SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AFTER HER ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONMENT AND ALSO THE MAIN THING IS THAT OUR HOURS HAVE BEEN CUT AND THAT STARTED AROUND THE TIME THAT WE STARTED TOSSING OUT UNIONIZING CARDS TO PETITION TO UNIONIZE.

AND IT HAS JUST BEEN ACROSS-THE-BOARD FOR SENIOR PARTNERS AND NEW PEOPLE, PEOPLE BEING HIRED TO WORK FULL TIME, BEING GIFL EN20 HOURS A WEEK, I MEAN I WAS GETTING 26 HOURS A WEEK, THEN WENT DOWN TO 20, THEN 11, NOW FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS SCHEDULED AROUND 13 AND I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING WITH MY MANAGER TOMORROW ABOUT HAVING AT LEAST 20 SO CAN I MAINTAIN MY BENEFITS AND HAVE I FOUND ANOTHER PART TIME JOB IN ADDITION.

>> Braude: JULIA, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHEN THEY CUT YOUR HOURS, I WANT TO FOWM, WHEN THEY CUT YOUR HOURS BELOW 20, YOU HAVE ONLY WORKED THERE 11 YEARS, WHEN THEY CUTS YOUR HOURS BELOW 20, ARE YOU NO LONGER ENTITLED TO BENEFITS FROM THE COMPANY?

>> THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

I KNOW THAT OVER THE PANDEMIC THEY CHANGED IT SO THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T BEING SCHEDULED AS MUCH SO THAT IF YOU WORKED MAYBE AROUND 15 A WEEK THAT YOU COULD, AND I COULD MAYBE USE VACATION AND SICK TIME.

>> Braude: I SEE, I SEE.

>> AND ALSO MY AVAILABILITY HAS LESSENED, ST MORE SO JUST NOT KNOWING HOW MANY HOURS I'M GOING TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AND NOT KNOWING IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE UNIONIZATION.

I HAVEN'T REALLY, I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY SCEPTICAL OF THE UNIONIZATION PROCESS AND HER HOURS WERE CUT AS WELL.

SO I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AT MY STORE.

IT'S JUST, THE UNCERTAINTY AND UNSAFE FEELING OF NOT KNOWING HOW MANY HOURS I'M GOING TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AND NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING WHY.

AND WONDERING NOW IS IT BECAUSE OUR MAIL-IN BALLOTS ELECTION IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE EFFORT AT OUR STORE.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT REASONS WHY THE UNIONIZATION EFFORT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> Braude: UNDERSTOOD.

WELL, IT'S GOOD THAT HO WASHED SHUTLEZ IS YOUR FRIEND, IMAGINE WHAT HE WOULD BE IF HE WASN'T YOUR FRIEND.

>> VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE LEAVE, YOU FIRST KYLAH, JULIA, WHAT DO YOU WANT CUSTOMERS WHO SUPPORT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND SUPPORT YOU TO DO?

DO YOU WANT THEM TO BOYCOTT THE STARBUCKS, REACH OUT TO THE CORPORATE, AS YOU CALL IT KYLAH?

KYLAH FIRST, WHAT DO YOU WANT SUPPORTING CUSTOMER TOES DO?

>> WELL, IF KEEP DOING WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHICH IS BEING OUR FRIEND, BEING OUR COMMUNITY AND SHOWING UP, AND SHOWING THAT SUPPORT.

SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE HAVE SEEN SUPPORT TOO IS CUSTOMERS ORDERING ON MOBILE WITH THE NAME UNION OR UNION STRONG.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND PARTNERS REALLY LOVE THAT.

IT REALLY PERKS THEM UP.

SOME OF THEIR DAY KBS VERY DIFFICULT WITH ALL THE SURVEILLANCE FROM CORPORATE FOLKS GOING ON.

SO THAT IS ONE BIG WAY.

NOAR BIG WAY TOO IS AS OPPOSED TO JUST BOYCOTTING, CONNECT WITH SOME OF THE PARTNER THERE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR EFFORT.

AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT EACH STORE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, SOME STORES MAY WANT TO BE BOYCOTTED.

OTHERS CURRENTLY MAY NOT.

>> JULIA, QUICKLY WHAT DO YOU WANT SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS TO DO?

>> I WOULD SAY DON'T BOYCOTT.

I THINK WE WANT TO SEE THEM.

WE LIKE SEEING THEM.

>> AND THEIR DOG.

>> I DID HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO ROAD AN EMAIL TO HOWARD SCHULTZ SAYING THAT HE SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS AND HE THINKS THAT UNIONIZING WOULD STRENGTHEN OUR STORE.

AND ALSO CUSTOMER KSES POST THINGS OR REPOST THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEY COULD ALSO MAKE A POSITIVE SIGN PROUNION SIGN AND PUT IT ON THE COMMUNITY BOARD AND EVEN JUST COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: GREAT.

KYLAH CLAY, JULIA BERKMAN, I WISH YOU BOTH A LOT OF LUCK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR "TALKING POLITICS."

ADAM REILLY AND HIS PANEL WILL TAKE UP DIANNE WILKERSON FLOATING A STATE HOUSE COMEBACK, NEARLY 15 YEARS AFTER HER EXTORTION CONVICTION.

PLUS, THE DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR A.G. IS HEATING UP.

AND, LEGAL SPORTS BETTING IS NEARING THE FINISH LINE ON BEACON HILL-- BUT WILL IT EVER ACTUALLY CROSS IT?

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN ME AND MARGERY EAGAN TOMORROW AT 11:00 ON "BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO," LIVE ONCE AGAIN HERE AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER'S DR. KATHERINE GERGEN BARNETT WILL JOIN US FOR "ASK THE DOCTOR".

WE'LL ALSO GET A PERFORMANCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE HANDEL & HAYDN SOCIETY, AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HARRY CHRISTOPHERS, WHO'S TAKING HIS BOW AFTER 13 YEARS TRANSFORMING THE ORGANIZATION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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