Starbucks Doesn't Care the Costs, It Just Wants to Crush the Barista Unions
Common DreamsJun 17, 2023
Judge Orders Starbucks to Reinstate Union Organizer
The Facts
A federal labor law judge on Tuesday ordered Starbucks to reinstate former employee and labor organizer Jaz Brisack, who had resigned in 2022 after the coffee chain reportedly ignored her request for fewer working shifts.
Robert Ringler, an administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board, observed that Starbucks had compelled Brisack to quit by not accommodating her scheduling needs, violating her rights under labor law.
The Spin
Narrative A
Starbucks' attempts to bend or break US labor laws as well as its intent — sabotage employees' attempts to improve their lives — is out in the open. Despite around 300 stores across the US deciding to unionize, the coffee chain refuses to see the obvious. Its preferential treatment of those staying away from union activities amounts to mistreatment of those exercising their legitimate rights.
Narrative B
Starbucks' management has met with union representatives at least 85 times in the past few years. Besides regular pay, which approaches around $27 per hour on average, the coffee chain extends multiple benefits, like stock grants and parental leave, to thousands of its employees worldwide. Branding this conscientious corporation as anti-worker or "union-busting" is disingenuous.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 12.0% of American workers will be represented by a labor union in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.