[US] Union claims Starbucks retaliating by illegally closing cafe

In the US, the workers union at Starbucks Corporation has claimed that the coffee chain giant is shutting down a recently unionised cafe in retaliation for its activist efforts, CNBC reports.

The closure is the latest escalation between a rapidly growing national labour movement and the coffee chain.

Workers United - the union backing organising efforts at Starbucks - said in a Friday filing with the National Labor Relations Board that Starbucks is violating federal labour law by permanently closing an Ithaca, New York, store. The group alleged that the action was in retaliation because employees at the location voted to unionise in April.

The Ithaca store employees say they originally went on strike over unsafe working conditions on April 16. Workers walked out due to a waste emergency caused by the overflowing grease trap, according to the union’s statement. In an email to the union’s bargaining committee, Starbucks cited the grease trap as the reason for the store closure.

The union committee reportedly alleges that Starbucks closed the store in retaliation for activity protected by federal labour law and to stop workers elsewhere from organising. “It is a clear attempt to scare workers across the country by retaliating against its own employees,” the committee said in a statement.

Starbucks said that it opens and closes stores “as a regular part” of its operations. “Our goal is to ensure that every partner is supported in their individual situation, and we have immediate opportunities available in the market,” a Starbucks spokesperson said in an email to CNBC.

The union is asking the agency to seek a federal court injunction to quickly prevent or reverse the store closure.

Around 100 Starbucks cafes have voted to unionise under Workers United, while only 14 locations have voted against unionising. Workers United announced this week it was creating a $1 million fund to cover lost pay for baristas who go on strike.

Workers United has filed at least 175 complaints against the coffee chain for unfair labour practices, CNBC previously reported. Starbucks has denied wrongdoing.

The worker union claims were first reported by Bloomberg News.

Source: CNBC

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In the US, the workers union at Starbucks Corporation has claimed that the coffee chain giant is shutting down a recently unionised cafe in retaliation for its activist efforts, CNBC reports.

The closure is the latest escalation between a rapidly growing national labour movement and the coffee chain.

Workers United - the union backing organising efforts at Starbucks - said in a Friday filing with the National Labor Relations Board that Starbucks is violating federal labour law by permanently closing an Ithaca, New York, store. The group alleged that the action was in retaliation because employees at the location voted to unionise in April.

The Ithaca store employees say they originally went on strike over unsafe working conditions on April 16. Workers walked out due to a waste emergency caused by the overflowing grease trap, according to the union’s statement. In an email to the union’s bargaining committee, Starbucks cited the grease trap as the reason for the store closure.

The union committee reportedly alleges that Starbucks closed the store in retaliation for activity protected by federal labour law and to stop workers elsewhere from organising. “It is a clear attempt to scare workers across the country by retaliating against its own employees,” the committee said in a statement.

Starbucks said that it opens and closes stores “as a regular part” of its operations. “Our goal is to ensure that every partner is supported in their individual situation, and we have immediate opportunities available in the market,” a Starbucks spokesperson said in an email to CNBC.

The union is asking the agency to seek a federal court injunction to quickly prevent or reverse the store closure.

Around 100 Starbucks cafes have voted to unionise under Workers United, while only 14 locations have voted against unionising. Workers United announced this week it was creating a $1 million fund to cover lost pay for baristas who go on strike.

Workers United has filed at least 175 complaints against the coffee chain for unfair labour practices, CNBC previously reported. Starbucks has denied wrongdoing.

The worker union claims were first reported by Bloomberg News.

Source: CNBC

(Links and quotes via original reporting)