Union busting | Starbucks survives union complaint, admits need for progress, and faces fresh allegation all on same day

Starbucks reaffirmed its commitment to the freedom of collective bargaining on the same day the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) lodged another official complaint of illegal labor practices.

It’s been another busy fortnight of employee relations for Starbucks. On 13 December, the federal labor agency alleged that Starbucks closed 23 stores, eight of which were unionized at the point of closure, without prior notice to Workers United, and with the intention of stifling further union activity.

This fresh claim of union busting arrived on the same day Starbucks successfully fended off another complaint from the NLRB. A third party inquiry addressing the incumbent complaint concludes that there were no clear signs of interference with the freedom of Starbucks employees to engage in collective bargaining activity.

Starbucks, in an official statement released on 15 December 2023, refutes this complaint and says it bases decisions to open or close stores based on annual reviews.