Demanding the end of anti-union activities by Starbucks.

A Resolution Demanding The End of Anti-Union Activities by Starbucks WHEREAS: The Starbucks store at 711 Somerville Ave filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to organize a union on February 24, 2023 for better working conditions, living wages, and better benefits, and has yet to receive an election; and WHEREAS: These workers have joined a movement of over 7,000 Starbucks employees that have filed for a union to receive better treatment and pay from the company, which is reportedly worth over $113 billion; and WHEREAS: Starbucks workers from this location have filed complaint with the NLRB regarding illegal anti-union behavior that has taken place at this location, including cuts to would-be union employees, abuse of the disciplinary process, illegal enforcement of dress code policy such as threats of discipline for wearing union insignias which the NLRB has said is “presumptively unlawful, absent special circumstances that justify such a restriction,” and the illegal lock out of workers taking federally protected activities; and WHEREAS: Starbucks has a long history of reportedly violating workers’ right to unionize as well as other violations of labor law, including more than 80 complaints filed by the NLRB itself; and WHEREAS: Corporate leaders of Starbucks, such as multi-billionaire and three-time-Starbucks-CEO Howard Schultz, have admitted in interviews to never accepting unions as a part of Starbucks; and WHEREAS: The City of Somerville has the legal right to take necessary action against businesses that break federal, state, or local labor laws that align with the values and laws of the City; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council demands that Starbucks stop interfering with the legally-protected actions of its workers, allow an election for the 711 Somerville Ave location and all such locations seeking to unionize, and work diligently to negotiate in good faith the sake of its workers, for its futures, and for its relationship with the City of Somerville