Starbucks Widely Violated Law in Washington, Labor Judge Finds

Starbucks Corp. committed widespread legal violations before and after workers at several stores across Washington unionized, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.

The coffee giant violated the National Labor Relations Act dozens of times at four stores unionizing in spring and summer of 2022 by enforcing unlawful rules, surveilling workers, and trashing union leaflets, NLRB Administrative Law Judge John Giannopoulos found in a decision released Monday.

The ruling, which is over 100 pages long, comes at a moment of heightened tension between the union and Starbucks. Both parties have been locked in negotiations for months over a “framework” contract that can be used to get collective bargaining agreements at stores across the nation.

The union has called hundreds of baristas out on strike in the days leading up to Christmas, saying that Starbucks hasn’t made sincere efforts to propose reasonable economic policies for workers.

Giannopoulos’ order addresses three separate complaints filed by NLRB attorneys in Olympia, Seattle, and Everett, Wash.

He found merit to nearly every unfair labor practice charge, saying that Starbucks illegally imposed a media policy that prohibited workers from speaking to journalists, threw out union leaflets in break rooms, and discriminatorily enforced its dress code against union supporters.

He also concluded that the dress code itself was unlawful because it didn’t allow workers to wear union insignia or pins. Starbucks then committed further violations by disciplining employees who refused to comply with the policy, he said.

Giannopoulos ordered Starbucks to rescind the unlawful policies and compensate two baristas for missed wages after they were sent home early.

Starbucks was represented by attorneys from Littler Mendelson PC. Starbucks Workers United was represented by Ben Berger with Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt LLP.

The case is Starbucks Corp., N.L.R.B. A.L.J., No. 19-CA-291860, 12/23/24.