A federal judge in Arizona ruled that Starbucks did not have to reinstate or give accommodations to three employees who claim they were retaliated against for organizing a union.
Employees at a Trader Joe's in Hadley, Mass., have filed to hold a union election. If the vote is successful, it will create the first union in the nationwide chain.
Starbucks gave the employees at the College Ave. location in Ithaca, N.Y., a one-week notice of the closure, the union says, with the store slated to permanently close on June 10.
Actor and activist James Cromwell glued his hand to a midtown Manhattan Starbucks counter on Tuesday to protest the coffee chain's extra charge for plant-based milk.
Starbucks workers have driven a surge in union election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Unionizing has also picked up at colleges, non-profits and pot dispensaries.
Once seen as among the most generous of employers, Starbucks is now grappling with disillusionment among its workers. Since December, 20 stores have unionized with more filing for elections every day.
Howard Schultz rejoins Starbucks as interim CEO as the company faces multiple challenges, including an unprecedented wave of unionization at stores across the country.
On the day of its annual shareholder meeting, Starbucks announced its CEO Kevin Johnson is retiring, effective April 4. Howard Schultz, who led the company for two decades, will return as interim CEO.
As part of the company's goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2030, customers will be able to bring a reusable cup to get their drinks by the end of next year.
The number of unionized Starbucks stores is now six after three stores in the Buffalo area voted to unionize. The vote counts at each store were close.
Starbucks workers at 15 additional stores are petitioning for a a union election, pushing to organize cafes across the country. In Buffalo, the first store to unionize is negotiating a contract.
