Posted on 06/06/2022 2:14:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Workers allege the action is retaliatory, but the chain says closures are "a regular part of our operations."
With thousands of locations nationwide, a single Starbucks closing typically isn't national news. But at a time when the coffee chain is dealing with a major unionization push from employees — and being accused of potentially illegal anti-union behavior in the process — the announcement that Starbucks is shuttering a unionized store in Ithaca, New York, is grabbing a lot of attention.
Starbucks Workers United, the national group behind Starbucks employees' unionization efforts, said they would once again be filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board after the chain announced plans to close the location on College Avenue which voted to unionize along with two other Starbucks locations in the city back in April. The union explains that this location was the first in the U.S. to vote to unionize and thus labeled the decision to close the store — with just one week's notice, no less — a "clear attempt to scare workers across the country by retaliating against its own employees."
Employees at the store went on strike in April due to an overflowing grease trap, according to the union, and Starbucks cited the grease trap as the reason for the closure. "We went on strike over our broken grease trap (which has been an issue for years) and now they're claiming that our store needs to close permanently because of it," employee Nadia Vitek stated. "Seems like blatant and illegal retaliation."
"When asked if we would still have jobs come June 10th, we were simply told that 'Starbucks would bargain in good faith," added Benjamin South, who has worked at the store for over three years. "This is clearly retaliation for our small grasps at dignity as workers, but our strike showed them what power we have."
For its part, Starbucks has also accused Workers United of illegal behavior. And when asked about the Ithaca closure, the chain described the choice as business as usual. "We open and close stores as a regular part of our operations," a Starbucks spokesperson told Food & Wine in an emailed statement. "Our local, regional, and national leaders have been working with humility, deep care, and urgency to create the kind of store environment that partners and customers expect of Starbucks." They further added that, "Our goal is to ensure that every partner is supported in their individual situation, and we have immediate opportunities available in the market."
Meanwhile, one of the key figures at the heart of Starbucks' anti-union push has been former CEO Howard Schultz who returned to the company as interim CEO after Kevin Johnson announced his retirement earlier this year. Interestingly, just today, Starbucks released a statement affirming that the chain was on track to identify a full-time successor to replace him as CEO "in the coming months" and that Schultz would remain as interim CEO until early next year to ensure "a seamless transition and continuity of leadership through the 2022 holiday season."
Additionally, in a story published today in the Wall Street Journal, Schultz explained what Starbucks was looking for: "For the future of the company, we need a domain of experience and expertise in a number of disciplines that we don't have now," he was quoted as saying. "It requires a different type of leader."
Tell them to go over to Ben and Jerry’s. They are hiring.
"We went on strike over our broken grease trap (which has been an issue for years)How does a grease trap break?
Why does a Starbucks even have a grease trap?
They all chose to lose their jobs because not one of them would make an effort to "fix the broken grease trap"
AND a "broken grease trap" even in a place like NY should be reason enough to close the place down without further notice for health reasons alone.
LOL!!! and they are all whining union busting... F$B
Unions, along with environmental regulations, are the reason why our manufacturing base is outsourced to China and Mexico.
If we want it back, we will have to send unions packing. If not, literally NOTHING can change.
They always said that Shultz built an empire on robusta beans, now I only hear arabica?
“Who’s going to manage it? The government?”
I’m surprised it didn’t go union and stay. The unions are run “co” by the government and the unions. They are a voter base for the liberals.
wy69
Can random vagrants still come in and use the facilities?
So, your worthless college degree in psychobabble got you a job at Starbucks? Don’t worry, the taxpayers will pay your student loan, which you used for parties and coke.
They can “steal” your accumulated sick leave, but they cannot steal any accrued vacation. They either have to let you take the time or pay you for it at your current hourly rate upon termination. That is Federal law (ERISA) and is not subject to modification by any state. If they didn’t pay you for accrued vacation upon termination, you have grounds for a federal lawsuit.
We were so short of workers, my employer would have offered more money, but their hands were tied due to the union contract
This might not be all about unions: Starbucks has agreed to pay transportation into NY State for any woman deprived of “abortion rights.”
I stuck my head into my neighborhood store and yelled “Goodbye Starbucks forever.” Maybe others should do the same, even if they don’t like the coffee anyway.
It was so bad at one Starbucks on the East Side that they had to hire a “clean freak.” She couldn’t stop cleaning everything, even the condiments bar when it was perfectly OK. She was fabulous.
Is that Starbucks a franchise or is it owned by Starbucks? If it owned by a franchise, maybe it was not a good location or the rent is going up. Maybe a franchisee is in trouble and will all of their stores...
“ Mmmm. Greasy coffee.”
I like their coffee. But I’m not paying 5/6 bucks for a large black coffee.
What is Robusta Coffee? Robusta vs Arabica: 12 Differences
By: Author Dena Haines
Posted on Last updated: December 14, 2020
Categories Coffee Beans
Has this changed since 2016? According to the lawyer I spoke with (as well as a state arbitrator) this was all subject to company policy. The arbitrator told me that is why Pennsylvania had one of the most generous unemployment payments in the country.
See also: Donald Trump
FWIW, the arbitrator on the state labor board was quite helpful in getting me unemployment, but not accumulated vacation time.
Hmmm...
Love coffee...
However, if the choices were:
- Cup of Starbucks LBGT coffee;
- Vaccine shot; or,
- Root canal...
I’d take the root canal every time...
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