Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) administrative judge has found Starbucks violated federal labor laws in wrongly firing 10 employees who were involved with unionization efforts.
Administrative Law Judge Robert A. Ringler issued a 60-page decision Tuesday finding Starbucks illegally terminated the following workers: Sam Amato, Tatiayna Gurskiy, Sariah Hakes, Cole Graziano, Victoria Conklin, Allegra Anastasi, Connor Mauche, and Jovan Draves, and constructively discharged Jaz Brisack. Judge Ringler ordered the Coffee Giant to reinstate the workers and provide them with back pay and other economic damages.
“Starbucks showed us how right we were to form a union by illegally firing me and my co-workers,” said Connor Mauche, one of the illegally fired Starbucks workers. “Without a union, we had no rights. What every worker needs is collective bargaining. All workers deserve the ability to exercise their rights free from fear and retaliation.”
“I’m glad that so many people are boycotting Starbucks,” said Victoria Conklin, another one of the illegally fired workers. “It feels so great to know that Starbucks is being held accountable for their actions both by the public and the courts. I look forward to the day I get to walk back into my store, put my green apron on, and continue fighting for my rights – despite Starbucks’ best efforts to stop me.”
Ringler also found Starbucks violated federal labor law by threatening to close the first unionized Starbucks location after workers there went on strike, and by making various other threats and operational changes with the aim of stopping union organizing throughout Buffalo.
Judge Ringler found that Starbucks violated the law so egregiously at the Penfield, N.Y. store, that the Union’s election loss is being set aside, and a new election is being ordered.