Starbucks Loses Round in Battle Over Union

The New York Times reports that the National Labor Relations Board has determined that Starbucks committed unfair labor practices by terminating three baristas and engaging in other improper activities while seeking to avoid unionization efforts at several of its Manhattan cafes.

The NLRB also Starbucks had committed ULPs by issuing negative job evaluations to union supporters and prohibiting employees from discussing the union even though the employees were allowed to discuss other subjects not related to work.

“The judge’s ruling shows that this company has trampled on workers’ rights to organize a labor union,” said one of the fired baristas, Daniel Gross, who is a longtime leader of the effort by the Industrial Workers of the World to unionize Starbucks workers in New York, Minnesota, Michigan and other states.

Starbucks was ordered to reinstate the impacted employees with back pay.

Starbucks was quick to voice its dismay with the ruling.

“While we respect the N.L.R.B. process, we’re disappointed with the decision, and we intend to appeal it to the next stage in the process,” said Tara Darrow, a spokeswoman for Starbucks. She said the company was disappointed that the decision did not take into consideration what she said where personal threats lodged against managers.

Ms. Darrow said the company was proud of its tradition of communicating with its employees directly, and not through a union. “We believe that at the end of this, our policies and approach will be deemed fair and consistent.”

The judge’s ruling grows out of charges that the labor board’s Manhattan office brought against Starbucks in April 2007.
Starbucks is experiencing similar organizing efforts in other states, including Michigan and Minnesota.