Starbucks Violated Labor Law in Texas Cafés, NLRB Judge Says (1)

Starbucks Corp. committed a slew of unfair labor practices at three stores in Texas, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.

The company violated federal labor law to undermine union support at cafés in Houston and Austin, Administrative Law Judge Robert Ringler held Thursday.

Starbuck’s unfair labor practices included illegally discharging, interrogating, and threatening workers, and prohibiting the display of union insignia, according to the ruling. The company also removed union materials from non-work areas, instructed workers to get management’s consent before contacting media outlets, and committed other unlawful activity.

Two of the three Texas stores in the case are ...