Skip to main content

Happening Today: NLRB To Tally Votes At Buffalo Area Starbucks


As readers might recall, there has been an ongoing unionization effort at several Buffalo area Starbucks recently.  This push to unionize several locations is notable in so much as Starbucks has been relatively successful beating back unionization efforts previously.

However, organized labor supporters are hopeful, if not confident, that this time the tide will turn.  Ballots were previously mailed a few weeks ago to qualified workers to vote in the election.  Those ballots are expected to be counted by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) today.  Of course, it is not clear when an announcement will be made on the outcome of the election but it is possible results could be announced this afternoon.  Regardless of the outcome of the election, I would expect to see challenges asserted (namely by whoever “loses” the election”) to the results with efforts made to secure a new election.

As we have seen with the Amazon vote in Alabama, (forcefully) defeating unionization efforts does not necessarily put the matter to bed.  After all, another election has already been ordered there.  Regardless of the outcome of the election at these three Buffalo area Starbucks, this will likely be an ongoing matter.


For additional information:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/starbucks-workers-confident-ahead-of-union-vote-count-next-week-211030146.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucG9saXRpY28uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJzL3dlZWtseS1zaGlmdA&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADiPSZGUDHFSy7NbHtWfXyzKAb4DR8EaXpNmvf444B6niB_7VRkBeMNzjf3_r0Y-FhqxOC5o6LEtgA0if5IksrZhxbmb61n5fIdKRdbLH4Lk0C7v_DB2Rba7Qu95DTJu0HYLYJos6-Yelfhkln1rSr2G_IZKT2VGRnJX8kfqPWwE

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...

Distance in a Non-Compete Agreement Measured "As the Crow Flies"

Ginn v. Stonecreek Dental Care - Court of Appeals, Twelfth Appellate District of Ohio Facts :  Dr. R. Douglas Martin ("Martin") sold his dental practice to an employee who worked there, Dr. David Ginn ("Ginn").  In doing so, Martin and Ginn signed a contract for the sale which contained a non-compete provision that prohibited Martin from engaging in business "within 30 miles" of the practice for five years starting from October 2010.  While Martin initially stayed on and worked with Ginn for a period, the relationship subsequently deteriorated between the two and Martin went to work for another dental office.  The new dental office was less than 30 miles away when measuring the distance in a straight line.  However, when driving between the offices, the distance was more than 30 miles. Ginn filed a claim against Martin on the grounds that Martin breached the non-compete.   At the trial court level, the court found that "within 30 miles"...

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...