Starbucks sued for accusing unionized workers of assault, kidnapping

Oct 17 (Reuters) – Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) was sued on Monday by eight staff at a unionized South Carolina retailer who stated the corporate falsely accused them of legal conduct after they demanded a increase from their supervisor.

The employees filed a lawsuit in South Carolina state courtroom towards Starbucks and the supervisor on the retailer in Anderson, a couple of miles from Clemson College. They claimed the supervisor urged police to cost them with assault and kidnapping after the employees pressed her for a increase in August.

The shop’s staff had voted 18-0 to unionize in June.

At the least 240 different Starbucks in america have unionized over the previous yr, and the corporate has been accused of unlawful labor practices at dozens of places. Starbucks has denied wrongdoing.

Starbucks in a press release supplied by a spokesperson stated it was reviewing the lawsuit.

“No Starbucks associate has been or might be disciplined for supporting or participating in lawful union exercise — however curiosity in a union doesn’t exempt companions from following insurance policies and procedures that apply to all companions,” the corporate stated.

In keeping with the criticism, the Anderson employees on Aug. 1 offered the supervisor with a letter calling for a increase. She then known as a Starbucks district supervisor and falsely claimed the employees have been stopping her from leaving the shop, the plaintiffs declare.

The supervisor reported the incident to legislation enforcement two days later, prompting a weeks-long investigation that included police visiting a few of the employees’ houses, in response to the lawsuit.

The native sheriff’s workplace in the end concluded the employees had achieved nothing unlawful, the plaintiffs stated.

Starbucks launched a press release on Aug. 8 saying the supervisor had felt unsafe and the employees have been suspended with pay pending an investigation.

The plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuit stated the assertion falsely advised that they had threatened the supervisor and engaged in legal conduct.

The employees accused Starbucks of defamation and abusing the authorized course of in violation of state legislation. They’re looking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Enhancing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Josie Kao

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