Posts tagged union-busting

    Starbucks Union: College Students Use Billboards, Leafleting in Solidarity Action

    September 18, 2023 // Today, inspired in part by the recent developments at Cornell, 11 university campuses are unveiling solidarity billboards that criticize Starbucks’ union-busting tactics, which are so copious, the NLRB, according to the Guardian, has brought over 100 cases against the company — though it cannot hold the company accountable with fines or other punitive mechanisms. (Starbucks told Bloomberg it plans to appeal the NLRB ruling in Ithaca.) Students on those 11 campuses, including the University of Arizona, the University of Washington, and the University of Chicago, will spend today leafleting outside local Starbucks locations to support workers’ unionization efforts. “Students prefer our coffee union-brewed," reads one of the billboards. "We support Starbucks baristas & demand an end to Starbucks' union-busting.”

    The Starbucks Union In Ohio Is Organizing A ‘Sip-In’ To Rally Support

    September 11, 2023 // Starbucks Workers United (SWU), which posted a flyer for the event on Twitter, called it an opportunity to "show up for unionizing workers." The event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 10, invites customers to "occupy the cafe," but not necessarily with the picket signs and protest chants that have characterized other Starbucks union events.   Instead, the store is asking customers to show their support by ordering their coffee drinks "union strong" or "union, yes," donning pro-union shirts and buttons, and talking to baristas about their union election. If SWU's recent cross-country bus tour is any indication, enlisting the help of customers is a useful tactic in bolstering union support. 

    Opinion: LES Trader Joe’s workers could still unionize New NLRB rule could upturn result

    September 7, 2023 // According to the new union-friendly framework, if during the period between when workers file a unionization petition and hold an election, the board determines that the employees’ company engaged in unfair labor practices sufficient enough to have affected the vote, the NLRB can order the company to bargain with its workers, regardless of election results. A lawyer representing the Trader Joe’s United union, Seth Goldstein, told The Chief last week that he had filed more than a dozen unfair labor practices charges against the company with the NLRB since the workers first petitioned to unionize early this year.

    Popular Union-Busting Tactic Banned in New York in ‘Major Victory’

    September 7, 2023 // New York has banned captive audience meetings, a popular union-busting tactic used by companies during organizing periods to disseminate anti-union information. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Wednesday morning, making the state the fifth in the U.S. to make such meetings illegal. “This legislation will help to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the benefits and protections that allow them to work with dignity,” Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday. “My administration is committed to making our state the most worker-friendly state in the nation, and I thank the bill sponsors for their partnership in our mission to establish the strongest and most robust protections right here in New York.”

    Labor Day weekend draws Portland workers out in droves to the picket lines

    September 5, 2023 // Across town, in Northeast Portland, New Seasons Market employees walked off the job and took up signs to express their frustration. "We're out here today protesting against a union-busting tactic that New Seasons has sort of been leveraging," said Wil, a New Seasons Market employee. "They've used their very punitive attendance policy to pit union stores and non-union stores against each other." The New Seasons Labor Union is an independent workers union, and so are many of the groups that marched in downtown Portland on Saturday. “We’ve always had the larger unions representing us, but now working-class people are taking it into their own hands to form their own unions and take the power back in the workplace," said Samantha Medina with the Coalition of Independent Unions.

    Firing, reprimand of organizers lead to complaints of union busting at MN350

    August 29, 2023 // Several workers have left MN350 in the past year, citing changes in the culture and frustration over what they regard as micromanagement. One of them, Joe Morales, was hired as an Indigenous organizing director in May 2021 and was part of a three-person team that helped run MN350 that fall. Morales originally backed the decision to hire McClenty, but within six months he and the other two members of the leadership team had left. He thinks the organization has strayed from its mission. "I still care about the staff and the mission of MN350, but I cannot support the organization anymore," Morales said.

    Worst Employer In America? Video Spot Calls Out SEIU Union Busting

    August 28, 2023 // The report reveals that the SEIU’s own employees accuse the union of union busting activities, sexual harassment, and promoting a toxic workplace that provides little work-life balance. The report includes Glassdoor reviews from SEIU employees who feel that they are “treated like trash.” The video spot highlights the unions poor reviews from its own employees.

    Trader Joe’s sues employee union for trademark infringement

    July 17, 2023 // Grocery-store chain Trader Joe's sued its employee union in Los Angeles federal court on Thursday, claiming the union's sales of merchandise related to the company violated its trademark rights. The grocer's lawsuit said Trader Joe's United sells tote bags, buttons, mugs and other products featuring the store's name and logo that are likely to confuse customers into thinking it made or endorsed them.

    Delta workers at MSP Airport rally in favor of unionizing

    July 17, 2023 // Workers hit the picket line after the speakers were done. Delta told WCCO that they don't get involved in elections. The airline said in part "the National Mediation Board has consistently confirmed that Delta did not interfere with our employees' right to free choice during union elections."