The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has thrown out a charge by Starbucks that union organizers in Phoenix violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), but the company will appeal. We’ve gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.
Starbucks’ Claims
Starbucks claimed the pro-union employees unlawfully threatened workers and customers at a shop in Phoenix. Workers blocked the store’s entrances, made threats, yelled profanities and pounded on the store’s windows, the company maintained. But the NLRB rejected these assertions, finding that demonstrators remained on the sidewalk and didn’t touch any employees or customers. Although more than 200 of Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since December 2021, employees at the Phoenix store voted against unionization.
In the company’s statement saying it would appeal, Starbucks said, “We disagree with the NLRB’s ruling and will appeal as we continue our efforts to protect our partners and allow for their voice to be heard.”
Union Organizers’ Goals
Union organizers hope to get higher pay, more hours and improved safety, which has become more important during the coronavirus pandemic. They also want more say in what their work lives are like, to have more discussions with executives and feel more appreciated.
In a statement, Starbucks has said, “We are listening and learning from the partners in these stores as we always do across the country.” Starbucks has approximately 9,000 stores in the U.S.
(Vox)
Organization Movement’s Origins
A barista who was also a Rhodes scholar helped unionize the Buffalo, N.Y., store that was the first one to organize. She had first broached the idea of a union with a colleague last summer, speaking of the need for more generous benefits, more consistent scheduling and a fairer promotion system, in addition to better pay.
(The Washington Post) and (SHRM Online)
Employer Rights
Often overlooked, employer rights under the NLRA include not only alleging that a union has violated the law, but disputing a union’s election petition, objecting to organized labor’s conduct during the run-up to a union election and filing an objection with the board over the conduct of the election.
