NLRB Sues Starbucks Over Anti-Union Regulations: Report

SEATTLE — The National Labor Relations Board has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks accusing the company of violating workers' labor rights, according to an exclusive report from More Perfect Union.

As that report explains, the lawsuit centers around Starbucks' employee handbook, which the NLRB alleges imposes “overly-broad and discriminatory rules” that illegally interfere with unionization efforts.

The NLRB's suit tackles 19 different sections of the handbook, which the company refers to as the "Starbucks’ Partner Guide", including:

• Regulations prohibiting Starbucks' partners from wearing union insignias.
• Bans on video and audio recordings, which prevent workers from documenting their working conditions.
• A ban on social media and unsanctioned interviews.

The NLRB has reportedly given Starbucks until May 18th to respond to the suit. A court hearing has been set for June 14, More Perfect Union reported. Patch has reached out to the National Labor Relations Board for confirmation, but has yet to hear back.

The report comes as Starbucks faces increasing scrutiny over its response to the growing union movement. A 50th Starbucks store voted to unionize Tuesday. That same day, the company responded by announcing it would be giving employees enhanced worker benefits, but would be withholding those benefits from union shops, and stores that had filed a union petition.

In response, the Workers United Movement filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Starbucks.

"These benefits, including ones we've demanded since the beginning of our campaign, are a response to our organizing efforts and we should celebrate the hard work that partners who stood up to Howard Schultz's bullying put in to make this happen," the group said Tuesday in a statement.

The Starbucks Workers United Movement had already filed dozens of charges against the coffee giant, claiming the company has used bullying, intimidation and other illegal means to squelch the burgeoning movement. The board has responded to at least one of those complaints, ordering the company to reinstate six New York employees who were fired for their union organization efforts.

“Starbucks is finally being held accountable for the union-busting rampage they went on,” said Danny Rojas, a fired shift supervisor at the Sheridan & Bailey store. “It is disappointing that Starbucks has refused to work with their partners and instead chose to fire union leaders like myself. Today, the NLRB is validating that the psychological warfare and intimidation tactics that took place in Starbucks stores was unacceptable. Starbucks needs to understand that it is morally corrupt to retaliate against union leaders and I am looking forward to the NLRB forcing Starbucks to make this moment right.”

The Starbucks union effort began in Buffalo, New York, but has rapidly spread across the country. To date, more than 250 stores across the country have filed to join Workers United. Among those are six Seattle-area Starbucks locations, including the now-unionized Flagship Reserve Roastery and Broadway & Denny location.