Starbucks store accused of blocking union (again)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mlive.com/business/grpress/index.ssf?/base/business-5/119098790663430.xml&coll=6

Friday, September 28, 2007
By Chris Knape
The Grand Rapids Press

EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- The National Labor Relations Board is expected to decide by today if it will file charges against a Starbucks in Gaslight Village over allegations it violated employee rights to organize a union.

The NLRB is waiting to see if the coffee giant is willing to settle the charges, which included allegedly restricting the distribution of organizing materials and threatening to fire employees involved in unionizing efforts.

"Unless the matter is settled in the next day or two, we'll take further action," said Stephen Glasser, director of the NLRB's Region 7.

The complaints stem from efforts by Starbucks barista Cole Dorsey to use an in-store bulletin board to post union-related materials.

Starbucks officials did not respond to calls from The Press.

In a recent BusinessWeek article on NLRB complaints, a spokesman said: "Starbucks respects the free choice of our partners and strictly complies with the laws and guidelines associated with labor organizing activities. Starbucks is recognized as a best place to work because we have made treating our partners with respect and dignity our number one guiding principle."

FULL story at link.