Starbucks Anti-Union Campaign Violated U.S. Law, Workers Allege

Starbucks Corp. violated federal law in its push to defeat workers’ organizing efforts, according to a labor board complaint filed by the group trying to unionize several of the coffee chain’s New York stores.

Company management has responded to unionization efforts “by engaging in a campaign of threats, intimidation, surveillance” and other illegal activity, Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, alleged in its filing Thursday.

Starbucks has said that it complies “strictly with the laws and guidelines associated with union organizing activities.” A spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry on the new complaint.

The ...