Federal judge: Starbucks must reinstate Memphis workers fired amid unionization efforts

A federal judge ruled Starbucks must reinstate the seven workers fired at a Memphis Starbucks in February amid a unionization effort.

As part of U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman's ruling issued Thursday, Starbucks must reinstate the workers at the Poplar and Highland store within the next five days.

“Or, if those positions no longer exist, to substantially equivalent positions at the Memphis Store without prejudice to their seniority or any other rights and privileges previously enjoyed, and displacing, if necessary, any employee who may have been hired, contracted for, or reassigned to replace them,” the ruling states.

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Starbucks issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying it strongly disagrees with the ruling.

“These individuals violated numerous policies and failed to maintain a secure work environment and safety standards,” the statement reads. “Interest in a union does not exempt partners from following policies that are in place to protect partners, our customers and the communities we serve.”

The company plans to appeal the decision and request a stay, which could pause reinstatement until after the review is completed.

“As we have said throughout, we will respect the unionizing process and will bargain in good faith guided by our principles,” Starbucks' statement reads. “Our decisions will continue to remain grounded in our policies, which we believe keep our partners and stores safe, and in upholding Our Mission and Values.”

Thursday's ruling is the latest development in a saga that began in January when workers at the Memphis store began unionization efforts. A federal court hearing over the workers' reinstatement was held in June in Memphis, following a successful union campaign led by the fired workers, dubbed the Memphis Seven.

Starbucks workers at the Poplar and Highland store voted 11-3 in favor of unionizationwith the Memphis Seven participating with the belief they would get their old jobs back.

Beto Sanchez, one of the Memphis Seven and previously a Starbucks shift supervisor, could not believe the news when he learned of Thursday’s ruling.

“It still feels unreal right now, but it took a moment for me to process all the work that we’ve done for the past (few) months, they finally met its resolution,” Sanchez said. “I still have a lot of tears right now, but honestly it’s such a great feeling.”

The National Labor Relations Board sought an injunction on behalf of the Memphis Seven and accused Starbucks of directing “coercive” measures against its employees at the Memphis store.

Lipman presided over the hearing between the NLRB and Starbucks in June.

Starbucks has said the employees were fired due to reported "safety and security violations” and not because of their unionization efforts. The company's lawyers also argued because the union vote was successful that the injunction to reinstate the employees was unnecessary.

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"Today's federal court decision ordering Starbucks to reinstate the seven unlawfully fired Starbucks workers in Memphis is a crucial step in ensuring that these workers, and all Starbucks workers, can freely exercise their right to join together to improve their working conditions and form a union," said NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo in a statement after the ruling. "Starbucks, and other employers, should take note that the NLRB will continue to vigorously protect workers’ right to organize without interference from their employer."

The firing of the Memphis Seven led to increased protests across the country in support of their efforts amid a nationwide rise in more Starbucks stores seeking unionization.

The Memphis Starbucks was the third one in Tennessee to unionize, following two Knoxville locations. There were 221 Starbucks stores that have voted in favor of unionizing as of Aug. 12, according to the NLRB.

Nabretta Hardin, a Memphis Seven member and a lead union organizer, released a statement following Thursday’s ruling, noting that the group plans to help unionize other Memphis stores.

“Memphis is a union town. We remain the only store to have organized in Memphis for fear of workers being fired like we were,” Hardin said. “We hope this ruling brings comfort to our partners in the Memphis area and shows them the power they can have in a union. There is no need to fear retaliation because the NLRB will protect them as they have protected us.”

Sanchez said his first day back at Starbucks will be an emotional one and he’s looking forward to his return after six months away.

“It’s gonna be such a great feeling to be back and be able to be with my family, my coworkers,” Sanchez said. “We grew very close with each other between all this and now I’ll be able to be back with them and hopefully get some of our regulars and all the great connections and great people I was able to meet with this job.”

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, residential real estate, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Starbucks workers fired in Memphis must be reinstated, judge rules