Starbucks baristas in Buffalo, NY, organize against corporate exploitation, sparking a nationwide, generational uprising among working-class Millennials and Gen Z as they challenge a powerful billionaire CEO and fight for their rights – a gripping story of a new generation of young workers, ages 21-35, largely women and from diverse backgrounds—who are fighting for their right to unionize at Starbucks.
https://www.baristasvsbillionaires.com
https://www.instagram.com/baristasvsbillionaires
Review by Andie Kay:
At least once in their lifetime, most people have worked a service industry job. If you haven’t? I highly recommend it because it will change the way you look at servers, baristas, and kitchen staff. It’s a grueling job paying minimum wage (sometimes less if you’re working for tips), where you are standing for the majority of your 8.5 to 9 hour shift and dealing with members of the general public who treat you miserably.
Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world. Google says so; I’m not making this up. Starbucks also (allegedly) takes wonderful care of its employees, calling them “partners” and offering them competitive wages, comprehensive health insurance, and college tuition coverage…(allegedly). Baristas vs Billionaires is an in-depth documentary exposing the billion-dollar corporations’ gaslighting and manipulation tactics they use with its baristas when they started to unionize.
Written by Brandyn Cross, Mark Mori and Glenn Silber, this documentary was eye-opening and incredibly well done. Mark Mori also directed this film and getting a chance to watch the interviews as well as the footage of Howard Schultz being interviewed by CNN was nothing short of riveting. The filmmakers also included footage of a televised Senate hearing so this film wasn’t just one-sided.
The cinematography in this was absolutely stunning, which is thanks to Bob Judson. The camera work and rich tonal quality were just beautiful. But it was the subject matter that really kept your attention as slowly more and more baristas from Starbucks stood together to fight and become a part of the union and get to the collective bargaining agreement. A fight that is still going on today.
This film was so impactful and important. It truly is a David and Goliath story and frankly, we all want to see David win. Go Starbucks Workers United!
