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What I’ve Been Reading This Week


Anddddd, we are back.  I would hope that readers spent some time the past few weeks keeping up on recent labor and employment law updates.  For those that missed out, stay tuned as we highlight some noteworthy developments that have (and continue to) play out in the weeks ahead.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Starbucks Moves to Begin Negotiations With Unionized Workers

Recently, Starbucks sent letters to the more than 200 locations that have voted to unionize and requested contract negotiations begin this month.  Currently, Starbucks is negotiating with only three stores:  one in Buffalo, one in New York, and one in Arizona.  Will the union that is representing these Starbucks workers accept the invitation and begin negotiating this month?  Time will tell…


Striketober…Fact or Fiction?

One of the more nuanced topics of late is the concept of Striketober in which workers across the country are expected to go on strike.  (Striketober is apparently this month’s “Quiet Quitting”, for those familiar with such lingo.)  The theory goes that with an increase in unionization efforts over the past year (and a White House and Labor Department that are staunchly pro union), workers are feeling emboldened to go on strike for higher wages, better benefits, etc.  Are we going to see a wave of strikes this month?  While Micheal Sainato over at The Guardian seems to think so, this might be a wait and see situation.


Automation Coming to California Chipotle…Next Stop, Nationwide?

On the heels of a labor shortage in the fast food industry (and a potential increase in labor costs), Chipotle has taken steps to automate some portions of its stores.  At present, Chipotle is introducing “Chippy”, a robot that will make tortilla chips at a location in Fountain Valley, California.  Depending upon how Chippy performs, Chipotle has plans to expand this automation nationwide along with other related automation of other tasks.  I would expect other large scale fast food chains to follow suit in the coming months.

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