
Swap Agrawal is a student at Harvard Law School.
In this weekend’s news and commentary, more than 1,000 Starbucks baristas at more than 100 stores across the country walking off their jobs for three days.
On December 16, Starbucks Workers United, the union behind organizing efforts at the national coffee chain, announced that over 1,000 baristas at store locations across the country are participating in a three-day workout. Starbucks Workers United called this unfair labor practice (ULP) strike the longest collective action in the campaign’s history. Specifically, workers are fighting back against union-busting by the company, including the recent closing of the first store to organize in Seattle. Starbucks Workers United’s press release highlighted that the NLRB has issued 45 complaints against Starbucks for over 900 violations of labor law, making the company one of the worst violators of federal labor law in modern history. Striking employees are also calling on customers to support the union by not purchasing Starbucks Gift Cards this year as part of the #NoContractNoGiftCards Campaign. The union published a map showing the Starbucks stores where workers are walking out. Fred and Kevin recently summarized the extraordinary year of organizing by Starbucks employees since the first store unionized on December 9, 2021.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 13
The United Auto Workers (UAW) seek to oust President Shawn Fain ahead of next year’s election; Columbia University files an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against the Student Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers for failing to bargain in “good faith”; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terminates its collective bargaining agreement with four unions representing its employees.
August 12
Trump nominates new BLS commissioner; municipal taxpayers' suit against teachers' union advances; antitrust suit involving sheepherders survives motion to dismiss
August 11
Updates on two-step FLSA certification, Mamdani's $30 minimum wage proposal, dangers of "bossware."
August 10
NLRB Acting GC issues new guidance on ULPs, Trump EO on alternative assets in401(k)s, and a vetoed Wisconsin bill on rideshare driver status
August 8
DHS asks Supreme Court to lift racial-profiling ban; University of California's policy against hiring undocumented students found to violate state law; and UC Berkeley launches database about collective bargaining and workplace technology.
August 7
VA terminates most union contracts; attempts to invalidate Michigan’s laws granting home care workers union rights; a district judge dismisses grocery chain’s lawsuit against UFCW