Starbucks Fires Union Leader Who Sparked Movement.

Starbucks fired three employees who were active leaders in the unionization movement, including Lexi Rizzo, a shift supervisor who led the labor campaign at the Genesee Street store in Cheektowaga. Starbucks said Rizzo was fired for being late for work too often, but the union and Rizzo believe it was retaliation for her involvement in the unionization movement. The firing led to a worker strike at the store, and Starbucks Workers United filed an unfair labor practice grievance against the company. A court ruling a month ago found that Starbucks had committed hundreds of labor law violations in Buffalo and Rochester.