Starbucks Hours Rehire Judge in Memphis Orders

7 Memphis employees who lost their jobs earlier this year were ordered to be reinstated by a federal judge in Tennessee for Starbucks hours.

After participating in an in-store discussion with a local TV station about their union campaign, those employees lost their jobs. The baristas’ union, Workers United, claimed that Starbucks dismissed the workers as retaliation for the staff members’ admission of customers after hours.

The National Labour Relations Board’s general counsel supported the union’s request for the workers’ restoration, arguing that their terminations were unlawful and would have permanently damage their ability to coordinate. U.S. District Judge issued the order, finding legitimate grounds to suspect the sackings were anti-union and unequivocal proof they hindered the campaign.

The key factor in such a case is not whether a worker transgressed company policy but rather if the business has a history of consistently upholding that policy in similar circumstances. Starbucks hours track record wasn’t something Lipman believed in.

The Verdict

Within 5 days of the injunction Lipman suggests that Starbucks should offer employees their job back. The restoration might be postponed if Starbucks succeeds in its argument of the decision and request for a stay of execution. Technically speaking, the reinstatement is only temporary whereas the labor board handles the litigation surrounding the firings. But Starbucks suffers a defeat in terms of law and media affairs as a result of the order.

Starbucks completely disagrees with Lipman’s decision. According to the company, those personnel broke several policies and did not maintain a healthy work environment and safety requirements.

A federal judge previously rejected a formal response by the board’s general counsel to reinstate the workers in Arizona. Since December, Employees United has unionized more than 200 Starbucks locations in a stunning organizing push. In June, employees at the Memphis business eventually decided to unionize.

The chief counsel for the labor board claims that Starbucks broke the law. She referred to Lipman’s decision as a crucial step in guaranteeing that these employees, and all Starbucks hours employees, can legally express their right to join together to better their workplace conditions and organize a union.

In a commercial, Hardin stated that they remain the only store in Memphis to have organized for anxiety of employees getting fired like they were. They hope that this Starbucks hours judgement brings relief to our partner organizations in the Memphis region.