Starbucks Fires Union Organizer, Faces Backlash

Starbucks has fired Alexis Rizzo, a shift supervisor at one of the first two US stores to win a union election, who is credited with sparking the organizing drive that has resulted in nearly 300 unionized shops across the United States. Rizzo is one of dozens of union organizers that Starbucks has fired since late 2021, according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which has accused the company of hundreds of labor law violations. The company has been accused of withholding raises and tips from union workers, unlawfully denying new benefits to organized shops, and illegally obstructing contract negotiations.