NLRB says 8 Twin Cities Starbucks fought union organizing

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.twincities.com/ci_12276282?source=most_emailed

Charges stemmed from Twin Cities union activities
By Julie Forster
[email protected]
Updated: 05/01/2009 09:22:00 PM CDT

The National Labor Relations Board has sided with union officials who maintain Starbucks Corp. engaged in unfair labor practices at eight Twin Cities stores to thwart efforts to organize workers.

An agency investigation determined 16 charges against Starbucks have merit, and the labor relations board will now propose a settlement.

The Starbucks Workers Union filed the charges in January, alleging a wide range of violations, from forbidding workers from discussing the union to expelling union sympathizers from the stores.

The union, which is affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World, says it consists of more than 300 current and former Starbucks employees seeking guaranteed work hours and better pay. A union organizing campaign was launched in the Twin Cities in May 2004.

The finding of merit means there is sufficient evidence to support an NLRB complaint, said Marlin Osthus, regional attorney for the NLRB. "It's not the same as concluding they violated the law."

The NLRB will propose a settlement, but Starbucks doesn't have to agree to it.

FULL story at link.