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 @ISIDEWITHNewsSupreme CourtNationalFederallaborWorkersUnionTennesseeSupremeStarbucks•••1wk ago

Starbucks Fights Labor Board In Supreme Court

The case before the Supreme Court began in February 2022, when Starbucks fired seven employees who were leading a unionization effort in Memphis, Tennessee. Starbucks argued the employees had violated policy by reopening the store after closing time and inviting non-employees — including a television news crew — to come inside.

The National Labor Relations Board determined the firings constituted an illegal interference with workers’ right to organize. The agency found that Starbucks had routinely allowed off-duty employees and non-employees to remain in the store after hours to make drinks or collect belongings. After Starbucks fired seven workers who were trying to unionize their Tennessee store, a U.S. government agency obtained a court order forcing the company to rehire them. Now, Starbucks wants the Supreme Court to curb the government’s power in such cases.

On Tuesday, justices are scheduled to hear Starbucks’ case against the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that protects the right of employees to organize. If the court sides with Starbucks, it could make it tougher for the NLRB to step in when it alleges corporate interference in unionization efforts.

The hearing comes even as the animosity between Starbucks and Workers United, the union organizing its workers, has begun to fade. The two sides announced in February that they would restart talks with the aim of reaching contract agreements this year. Starbucks and union representatives planned to meet Tuesday for their first bargaining session in nearly a year.

13 Replies

 @PopulistMooseGreen from Texas commented…1wk1W

Labor is an an assault on a predatory form of capitalism, as it should be.

 @SheepishRiceSocialist from Florida agreed…1wk1W

All capitalism is predatory, you'll come around eventually and realize that.

 @MellowHouseOfRepsDemocrat from New Hampshire commented…1wk1W

A job is not real unless it gives the worker a living wage, health and retirement benefits, and paid leave. Anything else is pure exploitation. Workers are sick and tired of being exploited by wealthy people and big corporations who don't work and pay little or no taxes while living lives of luxury.

 @CapitalistBrettSocialistfrom Michigan agreed…1wk1W

I stopped going to Starbucks and won't return until union members have a contract. All workers deserve to be respected, have good working conditions, and pay that can support them and their families.

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1wk1W

If the Supreme Court sides with Starbucks, how do you think this will impact workers' abilities to unionize and fight for better working conditions in the future?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1wk1W

Considering that the National Labor Relations Board stepped in to help the fired employees, how important do you think governmental agencies are in protecting workers' rights?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1wk1W

What are your thoughts on the balance between a business’s policies and workers' rights to organize and advocate for themselves?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1wk1W

Should a company have the right to fire employees for actions that are aimed at improving their working conditions, or is this an abuse of power?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1wk1W

How do you feel about a large company firing employees for organizing a union, especially if those employees were seemingly treated differently than others in the past?

 @MellowLeftLaneRepublican from California commented…1wk1W

If they spent the time they spend organizing on, say, pursuing a technical certification, or going on a serious job hunt, they could do something that pays better than pouring coffee. Seems like they have no ambition beyond fast food . . .

 @RatMattLibertarianfrom Virgin Islands commented…1wk1W

What role should legislators take in the fight to unionize Starbucks cafes?

Absolutely none. Government has become far too intrusive in all areas of life, including business. Leave this to the parties involved, labor and management.

 @BillOfRightsChuckForward from Oklahoma commented…1wk1W

Unions are a part of economic democracy. To many, economic democracy is at least as important as the political kind.

To call unions an "assault" on US capitalism is to say democracy is an assault on US capitalism.

And yes, it would be.

 @B1llOfRightsSealPeace and Freedom from California commented…1wk1W

They can keep their overpriced bougie coffee

I will vote union everytime

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