Starbucks violated U.S. labor law by firing a Manhattan store supervisor who organized workers to join a union, a federal labor board judge ruled Monday.
The National Labor Relations Board has established “compelling and strong evidence of animosity” behind Starbucks’ firing of Rhythm Heaton as a shift manager at its Astor Place store, NLRB Administrative Judge Benjamin Green wrote.
Mr Green said it was “particularly suspicious” that Starbucks took the risk of breaking the law “by firing an excellent employee at a time when the understaffed Astor Place store was already advertising to hire another team leader”.
Starbucks and its attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Heaton did not immediately comment.
Heaton was hired as a barista in 2018 and promoted to shift manager in early 2021, and regularly worked extra shifts because the COVID-19 pandemic led to staff shortages.
According to the ruling, Heaton began encountering resistance from Starbucks in late 2021 after he contacted Workers United, which represents baristas and team leaders at about 320 company-owned U.S. stores, and began organizing union activities.
The Astor Place store manager said he supports the union and considers Heaton an “extraordinary leader”, but he cited Heaton’s attendance in the dismissal notice.
Mr. Green ordered Seattle-headquartered Starbucks to offer Mr. Heaton reinstatement with back pay, and to stop firing or disciplining employees who support Workers United or exercise their rights under federal labor laws.
The decision can be appealed to NLRB board members in Washington and then to federal court.
Starbucks has approximately 9,000 company-owned stores in the United States.
2023-07-24 22:20:18
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