Starbucks Illegally Asked for Cops to Disperse Pro-Union Staff, Judge Says

  • Company told to offer reinstatement to fired Kansas workers
  • Starbucks says terminated employees violated company policies
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Starbucks Corp. violated federal law in Kansas and Missouri by firing pro-union employees, stepping up enforcement of its dress code in response to union organizing and asking for police to disperse workers with picket signs, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled Wednesday.

The agency judge’s decision requires Starbucks to offer reinstatement with back pay to four employees, and to cease making anti-union threats. It says Starbucks also must post a notice informing workers that the government found it broke the law, and promising not to do so again.