Starbucks Settles ULP Charges Over Firing At Michigan Store, But Union Refuses t
justme | 07.02.2009 13:09 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World
A National Labor Relations Board regional director in Detroit Jan. 16 approved a settlement agreement with Starbucks Corp. resolving allegations of unfair labor practices by the Starbucks Workers Union (SWU), an affiliate of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), filed with NLRB Region 7 (Starbucks Corp. d/b/a Starbucks Coffee Co., N.L.R.B. Reg. Dir., No. 7-CA-51190, settlement approved 1/16/09).
The NLRB regional office in Detroit had found sufficient evidence to establish an employer violation of the National Labor Relations Act at a Starbucks store in Grand Rapids, Mich., according to Stephen Glasser, NLRB regional director for Region 7.
The Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) filed several charges April 15, one of which NLRB found to be a possible violation of the act. On behalf of fired worker Cole Dorsey, SWU claimed Starbucks illegally fired a worker who had been involved in union activities. Glasser said NLRB concluded there was sufficient evidence to establish Dorsey was fired for his union activities and support for the union.
"We thought we could prove that," he told BNA Jan. 9.
Starbucks had said it fired Dorsey for attendance issues, Glasser said.
Reinstatement Not Required.
Under the settlement, reached one day before a trial was to be held, Starbucks will expunge record of the termination from the employees personnel file and will post a notice for 60 days at the Grand Rapids, Mich., store outlining employees rights under the NLRA. Under the settlement, Starbucks is not required to reinstate the employee or issue back pay. Although the union had sought Dorseys reinstatement, NLRB determined that it would not be appropriate, Glasser said.
The Grand Rapids Starbucks Workers Union (SWU) filed several charges April 15, one of which NLRB found to be a possible violation of the act. On behalf of fired worker Cole Dorsey, SWU claimed Starbucks illegally fired a worker who had been involved in union activities. Glasser said NLRB concluded there was sufficient evidence to establish Dorsey was fired for his union activities and support for the union.
"We thought we could prove that," he told BNA Jan. 9.
Starbucks had said it fired Dorsey for attendance issues, Glasser said.
Reinstatement Not Required.
Under the settlement, reached one day before a trial was to be held, Starbucks will expunge record of the termination from the employees personnel file and will post a notice for 60 days at the Grand Rapids, Mich., store outlining employees rights under the NLRA. Under the settlement, Starbucks is not required to reinstate the employee or issue back pay. Although the union had sought Dorseys reinstatement, NLRB determined that it would not be appropriate, Glasser said.
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