Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The heated rift between Starbucks and local workers steamrolling a unionization effort continues to build steam as the National Labor Relations Board is set to prosecute Starbucks on more than 200 labor law violations. Many of those violations stem from efforts by employees to unionize.
Casey Moore of Starbucks Workers United says workers have been in a war with the coffee shop giant over unionzing efforts. She says Starbucks has violated labor practices. "They've done everything from threaten our benefits, saying that if you organize, you could lose the ability to transfer stores, you could lose the ability to pick up shifts, you could lose your healthcare, your college tuition," says Moore. She adds Starbucks has fired union leaders.
Moore believes it's a miracle stores have successfully voted to unionize. "The NLRB is seeking a bargaining order, which essentially is reserved for the most serious cases where the NLRB doesn't see any other remedies for having a fair election in in the near future," says Moore. She says it's "absolutely had a chilling effect on organizing efforts."
Lexi Rizzo, 6-year Buffalo Starbucks partner, comments: "No worker in this country should have to go through what we the Buffalo Starbucks partners have endured. Our company professes to be progressive and now the public will see how hollow those words are. Frankly, Starbucks should be ashamed of its conduct in Buffalo and all over the nation as Howard Schultz seems willing to subvert the company to retain complete control. The good news is partners around the nation are holding him and the Board of Directors accountable."
Moore says the NLRB is seeking injunctive relief to halt Starbucks's union busting nationwide. "So if this is successful, and were granted injunctive relief, then Starbucks would essentially be held in contempt in the court, practically overnight, if they continue their union busting," explains Moore.
The hearing will be in person at the Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse in downtown Buffalo, located at 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202. It begins at 1:00 p.m
