Starbucks ordered to reinstate 7 fired Memphis union organizers

Starbucks was ordered to reinstate seven union organizers who were unfairly dismissed for their organizing efforts, court says deposit.

In a ruling filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Starbucks was ordered to bring back the seven terminated employees within five days and to “reverse and remove the unlawful discipline” imposed on an employee, Cara Nicole Taylor. The employees were laid off in February.

Taylor said she received two “corrective action forms” days after management overheard a conversation about unions with a co-worker. She was also encouraged by her district manager to transfer to another store because she was “too comfortable” at the Memphis store.

Starbucks Workers United, the union behind the hundreds of unionized Starbucks locations, said the decision was a key victory in their fight.

“Memphis workers are incredibly excited to return to work at the Poplar & Highland store,” a union spokesperson said in a statement. “Starbucks, and in particular CEO Howard Schultz, tried to scare and intimidate the whole country by firing these union leaders. The importance of this decision cannot be overstated.

The ruling also prohibits Starbucks from “terminating, disciplining, or otherwise discriminating against employees because of their activities on behalf of and in support of the union or any other labor organization,” which Starbucks did. Many times accused of To do.

The National Labor Review Board, the federal labor law agency, has filed an unprecedented number of claims against Starbucks in recent months for the coffee giant’s union-busting efforts. In recent weeks, Starbucks has asked the NLRB to stop union elections and accused the NLRB of being pro-union bias.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a Daily Dot request for comment.