[US] NLRB orders Starbucks to negotiate with union after violating labour law

On November 30, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined that Starbucks has violated labour laws by refusing to recognise unionisers at a Seattle store and ordered the US coffee giant to sit down for negotiations with the representatives, The Hill reports.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery store officially voted to unionise in April and the election was certified by the NLRB in May.

However, Starbucks has reportedly continued to challenge the election since July without producing any new evidence. The store has also refused to negotiate with and recognise the union, violating labour laws, according to the NLRB’s findings.

The federal agency ordered Starbucks to cease and desist its failure to recognise the union and to bargain with union representatives.

Starbucks must reportedly file a form with local NLRB officials attesting to the steps it has taken to comply with the order, within 21 days of receiving the notice.

The Workers United union is affiliated with Service Employees International Union. Employees at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighbourhood voted to join it 38-27.

The store became one of the more than 250 Starbucks locations that have unionised in the past couple of years; the new movement is swiftly spreading through stores across the US.

Starbucks has pushed aggressively back against the efforts and union representatives have accused the company of union busting.

A store in Memphis, Tennesse, was ordered to reinstate seven employees in August after a judge found that the company had illegally retaliated against them for joining a union.

Starbucks employees at more than 100 stores went on strike on Red Cup Day earlier this month. It is ordinarily one of the busiest times of the year for the chain as it hands out free reusable cups to customers for the holidays.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz returned to lead the corporation in April, he will step down from the leadership role in 2023. Mr Schultz has previously referred to unionisation efforts as a “new outside force that’s trying desperately to disrupt our company.”

Source: The Hill

(Links and quote via original reporting)

On November 30, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined that Starbucks has violated labour laws by refusing to recognise unionisers at a Seattle store and ordered the US coffee giant to sit down for negotiations with the representatives, The Hill reports.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery store officially voted to unionise in April and the election was certified by the NLRB in May.

However, Starbucks has reportedly continued to challenge the election since July without producing any new evidence. The store has also refused to negotiate with and recognise the union, violating labour laws, according to the NLRB’s findings.

The federal agency ordered Starbucks to cease and desist its failure to recognise the union and to bargain with union representatives.

Starbucks must reportedly file a form with local NLRB officials attesting to the steps it has taken to comply with the order, within 21 days of receiving the notice.

The Workers United union is affiliated with Service Employees International Union. Employees at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighbourhood voted to join it 38-27.

The store became one of the more than 250 Starbucks locations that have unionised in the past couple of years; the new movement is swiftly spreading through stores across the US.

Starbucks has pushed aggressively back against the efforts and union representatives have accused the company of union busting.

A store in Memphis, Tennesse, was ordered to reinstate seven employees in August after a judge found that the company had illegally retaliated against them for joining a union.

Starbucks employees at more than 100 stores went on strike on Red Cup Day earlier this month. It is ordinarily one of the busiest times of the year for the chain as it hands out free reusable cups to customers for the holidays.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz returned to lead the corporation in April, he will step down from the leadership role in 2023. Mr Schultz has previously referred to unionisation efforts as a “new outside force that’s trying desperately to disrupt our company.”

Source: The Hill

(Links and quote via original reporting)