Starbucks Will Rehire Seven Fired Memphis Employees



​Following a Sept. 6 appeals court ruling against Starbucks, the company has agreed to rehire seven Memphis, Tenn., store employees it fired after they participated in efforts to unionize. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.

Company Policy Violation Alleged

Starbucks said the employees violated company policy by reopening the store after closing time and inviting nonemployees, including a television crew, to come inside. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) challenged the company's action, saying it was interfering with workers' right to organize, and asked a federal court in Memphis to intervene. Last month, a federal district judge ordered Starbucks to reinstate the workers.

(PBS NewsHour)

Starbucks' Statement

"While we strongly disagree with the district court's order to reinstate partners and believe that order should be stayed while our appeal of the merits is pending with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, we will of course comply with the 6th Circuit's order," Starbucks said in a statement.

(Memphis Commercial Appeal)

Closely Watched Case

The case has been closely watched in the ongoing unionization efforts at Starbucks. Since December 2021, more than 230 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize.

(The Philadelphia Inquirer)

NLRB General Counsel's Statement

Following the federal district court judge's ruling, Jennifer Abruzzo, NLRB general counsel, said the decision "is a crucial step in ensuring that these workers, and all Starbucks workers, can freely exercise their right to join together to improve their working conditions and form a union."

(The Washington Post) and (SHRM Online)