Tax protest leads to closure of Bristol branch of Starbucks
Starbucks in Broadmead closed early this afternoon after a protest from tax avoidance campaigners.
UK Uncut and Bristol Anarchist Federation helped organise the demonstration with up to 40 protesters there from around 1.30pm.
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Protest at Starbucks Twitter picture by Claire Viva
A police source said that managers had decided to close early after the protesters went inside the coffee shop.
A Bristol AFed spokesman said: "The action was organised by members of Bristol Anarchist Federation and friends responding to the callout from UK Uncut.
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"Starbucks closed for the day after people handed out leaflets inside the shop and spoke to staff and customers."
The Bristol Indymedia website sent a rallying call to protesters to meet in Castle Park before making their way down to Broadmead.
The website stated: "Whilst local businesses who pay their taxes struggle through a double-dip recession and prolonged period of stagnation, multinationals such as Starbucks are able to continue making huge profits as they don't pay the 27% corporation tax they ought to. Local services are being cut, public services such as the NHS are being privatised and vulnerable groups such as the disabled are targeted while multi-billion dollar multinationals who could most afford to bear the brunt of the age of austerity pay nothing towards the society that sustains them."
In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson said: "Our highest priority is and remains the safety of our customers and employees. We trust that UK Uncut will respect it.
"We offered to meet with UK Uncut to discuss their concerns and make the protest a safe event for all involved. This invitation remains open."
Comments
by simontbc
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 11:34AM
“I didn't realise it was on Saturday, I thought it was on Friday.....my bad.”
by simontbc
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 11:30AM
“I thought alot of Starbucks shops were franchises run as UK registered businesses so therefore paying UK Taxes. Obviously Starbucks as a company would receive money but not in the quantities being mentioned. It is slightly ironic that people protesting were able to take time off work to go hold some banners and shout. Oh hang on.....”
by welliedog2
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 11:28AM
“Bristol Anarchist Federation...anarchy is soooooo 1970s.”
by GoveKnows
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 11:19AM
“The child holding the banner up doesn't look old enough to have to have a job let alone pay tax.
What a bunch of losers.”
by Bristolexpat
Wednesday, December 12 2012, 9:53AM
“Jeez,
Rent-a-mob turns up, intimidating the local shoppers going about their business, the coffee shop worker on a low wage, the guy trying to make a living through his business.
If you want to do this kind of thing then do it here:
Starbucks Coffee Company,
Building 4
Chiswick Park,
566 Chiswick High Road,
London,
W4 5YE.
Or give them a call:
020 8834 5050
Admittedly this will take a bit more effort, but as you all feel passionate enough to scare the cr*p out of some teenage worker I'm sure you can do it......”
by 999boy
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 8:46PM
“I walked past this bunch of idiots who frankly havent got a clue, not surprising really, the great unwashed looked like they had never done a days work in their life, let alone pay income tax. Starbucks pay taxes, vat on supplies, ni contributions on staff wages etc etc corporation tax is only paid on profits, and they havent registered a profit recently. The irony is that one of Bristol's biggest employers, Airbus, dont pay corporation tax either, and without companies of that size, bristol would struggle to be the vibrant prosperous city we all like to live in. Think about that on your next flight abroad folks....”
by DarkEther
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 4:20PM
“There were never any threats to starbucks staff, the protesters inside the store merely handed out leaflets and attempted to converse with both customers and staff. The manager decided to close the shop, apparently out of embarrassment more than anything else.
That and I think the starbucks management is worried that their staff may start organising against the cuts they are planning to make to their pay & conditions. This isn't without precedant as anarchist inspired radical union the IWW has organised starbucks staff in the states, and has a local branch in bristol.”
by cracked123
Monday, December 10 2012, 9:01PM
“I feel this article does not put enough weight on the fact that the store was closed not due to the fact there was a protest but because some of the protesters were threatening the staff. I am not against the right to protest but I know that the staff are not responsible for corporation and government policy and did not deserve to be treated in such a way.”
by Bristolexpat
Monday, December 10 2012, 9:18AM
“As ever, the crusties are too late for the party.
Starbucks' tax avoidance was surfacing as a news story back in September/October.
Last week Starbucks had already "caved in" to public pressure and agreed to pay Corporation tax....
http://tinyurl.com/c5yj36f
Oh well, rent-a-mob can be off to their new protest now...”
by PJB_1972
Sunday, December 09 2012, 11:05PM
“The fact that they manage to persuade anyone to buy their over priced rubbish seems to be the real crime here.”