Some interesting dialogue by Starbucks baristi about the fully autos:

http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/167

Before Schwartz took over there were unions and then they were dissolved. He was quite proud that he had won the trust back of the employees. I guess the union is back.

edit: according to the posts a lot of the baristi supported the conversion to the fully autos because of the risk of RSI, Repetitive Strain Injury.