Federal government accuses Starbucks of unfair labor practices in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Federal labor officials filed a broad lawsuit Friday accusing Starbucks of unfair labor practices at its Buffalo, New York, stores, including retaliation against pro-union employees.

The Buffalo regional director of the National Labor Relations Board has outlined a series of labor law violations in a request for reinstatement and back pay for employees.

There has been a wave of union organizing drives at Starbucks stores across the country, with the first union votes taking place in December at three Buffalo stores.

The coffee chain called the allegations “false” and vowed to fight them at an upcoming hearing.

“Starbucks does not acknowledge the merits of these allegations and the filing of the complaint does not constitute a finding of the NLRB,” spokesperson Reggie Borges wrote in an email. “This is the start of a litigation process that allows both parties to be heard and present evidence.”

Starbucks Workers United, the group behind the unionizing effort, said the complaint “confirms the extent and depravity of Starbucks’ conduct in Western New York for much of of the year “.

“Starbucks is finally being held accountable for the anti-union rampage they went on,” Danny Rojas, a fired team leader, said in a statement. “Starbucks needs to understand that it is morally corrupt to retaliate against union leaders, and I look forward to the NLRB forcing Starbucks to make this the right time.”

Last month, federal labor officials asked a judge to force Starbucks to reinstate three union activists at its Phoenix location, alleging the coffee giant engaged in unfair labor practices.

Since this week, workers at more than 250 U.S. stores have filed petitions with the labor council to hold union elections, according to union organizers. At least 50 of those stores voted to unionize with Workers United, an arm of the Service Employees International Union.

Starbucks announced Tuesday that its sales reached record levels in its fiscal second quarter, but noted that it faces higher labor costs, which are expected to rise further in the coming months. as the company introduces new salary increases and other benefits.

However, workers who voted to unionize or stores that petitioned to hold union elections will not be eligible for these additional pay increases and benefits.

Starbucks Workers United said it filed charges with the labor board against Starbucks on Tuesday. The group claims the company is violating labor laws by threatening to exclude unionized stores from new benefits.