In December 2021, employees at a Starbucks location in Buffalo, New York established the corporation’s first unionized workplace – but it hasn’t stopped there. Since the unionization efforts began, Starbucks has allegedly terminated activist employees who say they were removed due to their involvement in union campaigns.
Now, U.S. labor officials are appealing the federal court to mandate that Starbucks rehire those activist employees. More specifically, the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) Phoenix chief is attempting an injunction against Starbucks, requiring that they reinstate three employees that were thought to be illegally terminated, forced out of the company, or unjustly placed on unpaid leave due to campaigning efforts. Experts forecast a lengthy and expensive legal battle and possible harm to Starbucks’ reputation as a progressive company if union conflicts continue.
Meanwhile, the nearly decade-long legal battle between McDonald’s and the NLRB is coming to a close. In 2014, the NLRB alleged that the burger giant allegedly took retaliatory actions against employees who joined the Fight for $15 campaign. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a bid to reopen a case against McDonald’s. The Court refused the bid since the deal to resolve the charges against the company and its franchisees “was within the labor board’s discretion to approve,.” according to the court.
The eight year-old case had since grown into the largest NLRB suit to date, though experts believe the Court of Appeals opinion will close the longstanding argument. Though as the NLRB’s case against McDonald’s comes to a close, their suit against Starbucks has only just begun.
The ramp-up in unionization decisions and appeals is highlighted by an upcoming holiday: International Workers’ Day, otherwise known as “May Day.” The day was given significance in the 19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, to honor working men, women and children. Among other issues, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions decided in 1884 to enforce the eight-hour workday starting May 1st, 1886.
Once May 1, 1886 came along, the Haymarket Riots began to support the eight-hour workday. Over 300,000 workers from 14,000 businesses went on strike, leading to future May Day strikes and walkouts.
Fast-forward to today, and 66 countries have adopted May Day as an official holiday. The day is celebrated by a mix of cultures and governments and is now seen as a commemoration to workers and laborers around the world.
Visit Angela’s blog for more information on related topics, or watch this Spectrum News 1 appearance for her take on the countrywide Starbucks unionization campaigns.
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Experienced Employment Law Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Investigator, Legal and Media Commentator
Twice-named a U.S. News Best Lawyer in America for employment and labor law, Angela Reddock-Wright is an employment and labor law attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and certified workplace and Title IX investigator (AWI-CH) in Los Angeles, CA. Known as the “Workplace Guru,” Angela is an influencer and leading authority on employment, workplace/HR, Title IX, hazing, and bullying issues. Furthermore, she’s been named a “Top 50 Woman Attorney” in California by Super Lawyers, a “Top California Employment Lawyer” by the Daily Journal and one of Los Angeles’ “Most Influential Minority and Women Attorneys” by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Angela is a regular legal and media commentator and analyst and has appeared on such media outlets as Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Law and Crime with Brian Ross, Court TV, CNN, NewsNation, ABC News, CBS News, Fox 11 News, KTLA-5, the Black News Channel, Fox Soul – The Black Report, NPR, KPCC, Airtalk-89.3, KJLH Front Page with Dominique DiPrima, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Forbes.com, Yahoo! Entertainment, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Focus, Daily Journal, Our Weekly and the Wave Newspapers.
Angela is a member of the panel of distinguished mediators and arbitrators with Judicate West, a California dispute resolution company. She also owns her own dispute resolution law firm, the Reddock Law Group of Los Angeles, specializing in the mediation, arbitration, and investigation of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace claims, along with Title IX, sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct conduct cases, along with hazing and bullying cases in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, fraternities and sororities; fire, police and other public safety agencies and departments; and other private and public sector workplaces.
Reddock-Wright has also launched her own radio show, Legal Lens with Angela Reddock-Wright, airing on Tavis Smiley’s new KBLA Talk 1580 radio station on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. PT with replays on subsequent Sundays. Listeners may tune-in by downloading the APP @kbla1580 and call the PowerLines at 1-800-920-1580. You can listen to past episodes on Anchor.Fm/Spotify.
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This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.
The post May Day 2022: Starbucks & McDonald’s Take On NLRB Retaliation Cases, Highlighting Significance of “May Day” first appeared on Angela Reddock-Wright.