Federal Judge has ruled that Starbucks does not need to make accommodations or reinstate three employees who claimed they were retaliated against because of their union organizing.
Starbucks workers are leading a national wave of union organizing with more than 100 successful votes. This case is an important victory for the company.
Three employees at a Phoenix store who were promoting a union claim they were wrongly dismissed. Three employees who were promoting a union in a Phoenix store claim that they were fired because of scheduling conflicts or denied accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The National Labor Relations Board asked a court for an order requiring Starbucks to reinstate the workers, and to provide ADA accommodations to one. On Wednesday, the court ruled that Starbucks was not required to immediately rehire two employees. According to a shift supervisor, the third employee has returned to work, but has not been provided accommodations.
"The judgment by the judge today proves that any claims against anti-union activity have categorically been false," Reggie Borges, a Starbucks spokesperson, stated in an email.
It is not over yet aEUR", it will still be heard by an NLRB Judge on June 14. Workers who are unable to wait for their cases in court can be granted temporary relief by injunctions. This can take up to months.
Starbucks Workers United is disappointed by the ruling. The union has been supported at Starbucks stores all across America, including the Phoenix location, since December last year.
"While yesterday was a setback, it in no manner stops us from doing what we're supposed to do with our union organizing," stated Bill Whitmire (shift supervisor at the store).
According to records, there are more than 180 open NLRB case against Starbucks for unfair labor practices.
