Starbucks sued for accusing unionized employees of assault, kidnapping

Starbucks Corp was sued on Monday by eight workers at a unionized South Carolina retailer who stated the corporate falsely accused them of felony conduct after they demanded a increase from their supervisor.

The employees filed a lawsuit in South Carolina state court docket in opposition to 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 workers had voted 18-0 to unionize in June.

No less than 240 different Starbucks in the US have unionized over the previous 12 months, and the corporate has been accused of unlawful labor practices at dozens of areas. Starbucks has denied wrongdoing.

Starbucks in an announcement offered by a spokesperson stated it was reviewing the lawsuit.

“No Starbucks associate has been or will likely 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.

Based on the criticism, the Anderson employees on Aug. 1 introduced 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 regulation enforcement two days later, prompting a weeks-long investigation that included police visiting among the employees’ properties, in keeping with the lawsuit.

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

Starbucks launched an announcement 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 recommended that they had threatened the supervisor and engaged in felony conduct.

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