Share this @internewscast.com

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a challenge by Starbucks to a judicial decision that required the coffee chain to rehire seven employees at one of its cafes in Memphis, Tennessee, who a federal agency determined were fired for supporting unionization.

The justices took up a Starbucks appeal of a lower court’s ruling that found that the company likely discouraged other employees from exercising their rights under U.S. labor law by firing the Memphis workers in 2022. This is the first case to reach the Supreme Court involving an ongoing nationwide campaign to unionize Starbucks stores.

The Memphis store is one of more than 370 Starbucks locations in the United States to unionize since 2021. The Seattle-based company was non-union for decades.

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) concluded that Starbucks unlawfully fired the Memphis employees for supporting the union drive and to send a message to other workers.

The NLRB sought an injunction to compel Starbucks to rehire the employees, which Memphis-based U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman granted. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Lipman’s decision in 2023, faulting the actions of Starbucks.

Starbucks has said it fired the workers for violating a company safety policy by opening their store without consent and allowing journalists inside. The company last year said it rehired the seven employees to comply with Lipman’s order, but still pursued the appeal of the 6th Circuit decision to the Supreme Court.

The company has said the 6th Circuit applied too low of a bar by requiring the NLRB to show only that there was “reasonable cause” to believe the company committed labor law violations. Major business groups, in urging the Supreme Court to hear the Starbucks appeal, argued that the 6th Circuit and other federal courts have made it too easy for the NLRB to win judicial orders requiring businesses to take steps to address allegedly illegal labor practices.

More than 700 complaints have been filed with the NLRB accusing Starbucks of unlawful labor practices such as firing union supporters, spying on workers and closing stores during labor campaigns.

The 6th Circuit is considering a Starbucks appeal of an NLRB ruling in a separate case barring the company from firing or disciplining employees at a location in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Other U.S. appeals courts are reviewing NLRB rulings that Starbucks illegally fired union organizers in Philadelphia and has refused to bargain with unionized workers in Seattle.

The company has denied wrongdoing and said it offers employees competitive wages and benefits and respects their rights under federal labor law.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Sean 'Diddy' Combs gets standing ovation from inmates after court victory, his lawyer says

Inmates Applaud Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After Court Win, According to His Attorney

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs received a standing ovation from…
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at an Ashura ceremony.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah, 86, Makes Public Appearance After Trump Advises Israel Against Targeting Him

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made his first public appearance…
Flooding from Chantal's remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina

Remnants of Chantal Cause Flooding, Forcing Dozens to Evacuate Homes in North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Torrential rain and flooding resulting from the…
Amy Schumer has slashed the price of her Brooklyn townhouse

Amy Schumer Reduces Asking Price for Brooklyn Townhouse

After being on the market for three months, comedian and actress Amy…
Bay Street near Jacksonville's Maxwell House Coffee plant down to 1 lane

Traffic Reduced to Single Lane on Bay Street Near Maxwell House Coffee Plant in Jacksonville

A JEA spokesperson crews will be working Bay Street near the Maxwell…
Former Houston appointee claims flood-ravaged Camp Mystic is 'Whites-only' in viral video

Ex-Houston Official Alleges Viral Video Shows Camp Mystic, Damaged by Flood, as ‘Whites-Only’

A former appointee to a Houston city board is facing criticism for…
Fultondale man who died at the Jefferson County Jail had been booked twice over several months

Fultondale Resident Dies in Custody Following Multiple Arrests Over Several Months

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — An inmate at the Jefferson County Jail died…
TikTok building new version of app ahead of expected US sale: report

TikTok Developing New App Version in Anticipation of Possible US Sale: Report

According to a report from The Information, TikTok is developing a new…
'Love Island USA' star Cierra Ortega exits show after racist posts resurface

‘Love Island USA’ Contestant Cierra Ortega Departs Show Following Revival of Racist Social Media Posts

Not so lovely.  “Love Island USA” star Cierra Ortega, 25, made a…
Israel launches airstrikes at Yemen's Houthi rebels, Houthis launch missile back

Israel Strikes Yemen’s Houthi Rebels; Houthis Respond with Missile Launch

The assaults followed a suspected Houthi offensive on a ship in the…
Israel sends team to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire negotiations

Israel Dispatches Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Truce Talks

The war has been ongoing for nearly 21 months now. DEIR AL-BALAH,…
DHS Says Mainstream Media 'Deliberately Lying' in Coverage of Events Leading Up to Catastrophic TX Flood

DHS Accuses Mainstream Media of Intentionally Misleading Reports About Events Before Devastating Texas Flood

There are accusations ranging from the influence of DOGE to budget reductions…