Collegetown Starbucks, once a loved destination for many Cornellians seeking a social hub and caffeinated beverage, closed permanently on June 10 after maintaining a strong foothold for more than 15 years. Starbucks Workers United almost immediately filed a complaint against the corporation, alleging the Starbucks of unlawfully closing its Collegetown location in retaliation without discussing the decision to close.
On Nov. 1, Region 3 of the National Labor Relations Board considered these allegations against Starbucks and decided to proceed with the case.
“This is not a final ruling by the NLRB, but rather the first step in prosecuting the case,” wrote Michael Dolce, partner at Hayes Dolce, representing SBWU in an email to The Sun. “The Union does fully expect that the General Counsel’s office will prevail on both allegations.”
Prof. Desiree LeClercq, employment and labor law, explained the role of the NLRB with respect to the conflict between Starbucks and its union in an email to the Sun.
“The NLRB is the executive agency mandated to enforce the NLRA. It does not mediate conflicts,” LeClerq wrote. “Rather, it adjudicates complaints brought by the NLRB General Counsel alleging that either businesses or unions have violated provisions of the NLRA.”
This recent development with the NLRB signals a potential reopening of the Collegetown location, according to legal experts.
“The burden then shifts to the employer to prove non-discriminatory business/economic...
Prosecutors in central New York say they are reopening the investigation of alleged "gang rape" at a Cornell University fraternity in 2024 after a civil lawsuit filed earlier this month sparked ou...