Anita Alem is a student at Harvard Law School.
In a significant win for Starbucks workers, on Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board rejected Starbucks’ argument on appeal regarding the proposed size of bargaining units. Starbucks had argued that the appropriate organizing level is at the regional level rather than store-by-store in an attempt to make unionizing more difficult for workers through larger unit sizes. However, the NLRB, reviewing the decision that found single-store units appropriate, stated only that Starbucks had raised “no substantial issues warranting review.” The decision comes on the heels of a complaint the Phoenix regional NLRB director filed on Tuesday alleging that Starbucks surveilled and retaliated against pro-union workers.
In what may signal a change in Starbucks’ strategy against unionization, founder Howard Schultz has stated he will be returning to his position as chief executive after his retirement in 2018. The current chief executive, Kevin Johnson, will be stepping down. The announcement came soon after a group of Starbucks investors recommended that Starbucks “publicly commit to a global policy of neutrality and swiftly reach fair and timely collective bargains with the workers should they vote to unionize.”
The Chicago Teacher’s Union was unsuccessful in its attempt to temporarily block the lifting of the mask mandate in Chicago public schools. The Union had argued that the lifting of the mandate violated the COVID safety agreement the district had previously agreed to that extended the mask mandate through August 26, 2022. The preliminary injunction was not granted on a vote of 3-2. However, the issue will be taken up again by the state labor board in June.
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August 29
Trump fires regulator in charge of reviewing railroad mergers; fired Fed Governor sues Trump asserting unlawful termination; and Trump attacks more federal sector unions.
August 28
contested election for UAW at Kentucky battery plant; NLRB down to one member; public approval of unions remains high.
August 27
The U.S. Department of Justice welcomes new hires and forces reassignments in the Civil Rights Division; the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments in Brown v. Alaska Airlines Inc.; and Amazon violates federal labor law at its air cargo facility in Kentucky.
August 26
Park employees at Yosemite vote to unionize; Philadelphia teachers reach tentative three-year agreement; a new report finds California’s union coverage remains steady even as national union density declines.
August 25
Consequences of SpaceX decision, AI may undermine white-collar overtime exemptions, Sixth Circuit heightens standard for client harassment.
August 24
HHS cancels union contracts, the California Supreme Court rules on minimum wage violations, and jobless claims rise