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
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July 9
The Second Circuit declines to vacate an arbitration award over a nursing union dispute; federal workers sue the Department of Defense for termination of union contracts; New York City announces settlement with companies for violating New York work laws.
July 8
DOL plans to make changes to the PERM immigration program; three-day hearing on proposed forced-labor tariffs is underway; Mamdani recovers $2.3M in corporate settlements.
July 7
Former EEOC Commissioner drops her wrongful termination lawsuit following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Presidential removal power; unions sue Department of Defense over cancellation of collective bargaining agreements.
July 6
NY home health worker class action settlement secures preliminary approval; the NLRB upholds order finding Amazon violated federal labor law.
July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.