Starbucks Ordered to Rehire Unionized Workers After Illegal Store Shutdown

A US labor board judge has ruled that Starbucks violated federal labor law when it closed a unionized store in Ithaca, New York. The judge stated that the closure was intended to discourage unionization efforts and that Starbucks failed to prove it would have closed the store without animus towards pro-union employees. The ruling calls for the reopening of the store, reinstatement of terminated employees with backpay, and the posting of workers' rights notices in Starbucks cafes nationwide. Starbucks plans to appeal the decision. Over 90 complaints have been filed against Starbucks for anti-union tactics, but the company has not reached a collective bargaining agreement with any of the unionized stores.