Starbucks has committed multiple labor law violations, firing six pro-union workers, disciplining and supervising others, closing stores and changing labor policies in the fight against the organizational campaign, according to a complaint. filed by labor officials on Friday.
The regional director of the National Council on Labor Relations has accused a Seattle -based coffee network of finding fault with allegations made by Workers United. The union has successfully organized more than 50 Starbucks stores since last year, despite the company’s aggressive counter-campaign.
The complaint filed on Friday was unusually large, claiming a pattern of intimidation and revenge at some New York stores. He also played CEO Howard Schultz who says he broke the law in November last year and promised to “increase benefits” if they didn’t join.
The regional director, Linda Leslie, asked Schultz or executive Rossan Williams to read a notice to workers explaining what their rights were or attend to council agents who read the notice. Linda said the video needed to be recorded to be distributed to all stores.
The complaint alleges that Starbucks closed stores to intimidate union -oriented workers, punished workers who supported the organization’s efforts, assigned executives to monitor union sympathies, and provided incentives. to turn workers against the union.
Council officials will file this complaint after reviewing the union’s allegations and finding them credible.
The union’s campaign, known as Starbucks Workers United, said the lawsuit “completely exposes the presence of Starbucks as a‘ progressive company ’”.
“Starbucks says there is no breakdown of unions in Buffalo. “The NLRB is setting a record today,” the campaign said in a statement on Friday. “The complaint supports the reach and destruction of Starbucks in West New York for a year. “Starbucks was responsible for the demolition of unions in the mines, which forced workers to fight for the right to organize.”
A Starbucks spokesman said in an email that the company did not believe the allegations were justified and called the complaint “the beginning of legal proceedings that allow both sides to be heard.”
“We believe the allegations contained in the complaint are false and hope to present our evidence when the allegations are heard,” the spokesperson said.
Many of the alleged actions took place at Starbucks stores in the Buffalo district, where the restructuring campaign began in 2021. Since then the effort has spread nationwide, with more than 200 stores calling for in union elections.
In the complaint, Leslie said Starbucks should provide training to executives on workers’ rights and give the union “equal time” to address its case with workers if the company holds meetings against in the union. He also said that redundant workers should be given reinstatement and compensation.
If there is no agreement between the board and Starbucks, the case could go to court, with witnesses from both sides to testify.
The allegations are part of a broader legal battle between Starbucks and Workers United, in which the campaign accuses the company of retaliation against the organizers. The union called on board members to take action against Starbucks, arguing that the company’s actions would have a calming effect on workers who would otherwise assert their rights.
Labor council officials have previously reviewed some of the union’s claims. Another regional director recently filed a lawsuit against Starbucks for terminating a group of Tennessee workers known as the Memphis Seven.
In another case, the Labor Council counsel went to federal court and requested a temporary ban on the return of three Starbucks employees. The Attorney General accused Starbucks of targeting workers who support their union.
This story was updated in Starbucks comments.
Read the full complaint below:
Source: Huffpost
