DENVER — An administrative law judge sided with workers Monday at a Denver Starbucks and agreed that workers were retaliated against in various ways after a decision to unionize last year.
In her decision, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Amita Baman Tracy ordered Starbucks to reinstate one fired worker and to expunge warning letters from two employee records. The company was also ordered to pay back wages to the fired worker.
In addition, a copy of the violation must be posted at the store for at least 60 days.
The ruling follows an August 2022 hearing in which workers testified about what they called retaliatory and illegal conduct by company agents and managers.
Tracy found that Starbucks committed unfair labor practices by telling employees they would not be eligible for wage increases or promotions if they selected the union as their bargaining representative.
Micaela Sellaro, a former employee who was previously disciplined, celebrated the decision, according to a statement from the union.
“Ultimately it just feels good for us to be vindicated. We did our jobs well, we told the truth, and we won… again,” she said.
Workers at "The Barn" voted unanimously to unionize last summer alongside others across the state.
On March 14, another trial will be held in Denver to review the National Labor Relations Board’s complaint that Starbucks illegally threatened, disciplined and discharged workers at other locations in Denver and Colorado Springs.
More than 270 Starbucks locations nationwide have voted to unionize with Workers United since December of 2021, including the Broadway and Baseline location in Boulder most recently.
9NEWS has reached out to Starbucks for comment.
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