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Federal officials say Starbucks engaged in unfair labor practices at Phoenix store

Federal labor officials have asked a judge to force Starbucks to reinstate three union activists at a Phoenix location.

The National Labor Relations Board, known as NLRB, is seeking an injunction that would force Starbucks to hire back three employees involved in the store’s union organizing committee.

The board alleges that Starbucks retaliated after it learned the employees were seeking to unionize, placing one employee on a leave of absence and discharging two others.

A Starbucks spokesperson said Saturday that the company disagreed with the labor board’s accusations and noted an investigation found the employees violated policies and, in some cases, state law.

After a successful union vote in Seattle Thursday, a spokesperson for the company said it will “respect the process and bargain in good faith.” 

Starbucks also recently filed two complaints with the NLRB, alleging that the union organizing its baristas, Workers United, broke federal labor law

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vaughan Jones was a reporter at KJZZ from 2020 to 2022.