Over one year after a Colorado Starbucks barista was fired for union organizing, the coffee company was ordered by a judge to rehire the former employee.
Federal administrative law judge Ira Sandron found that Alendra ‘Len’ Harris was unlawfully fired in November 2022 for organizing a union, and ordered that the coffee giant not only needed to give her her job back but also compensate her with back pay and a letter of apology.
“There’s a lot of feelings,” Harris told CBS Colorado station KCNC. “I’m incredibly validated.”
“It really hits different when a legal document tells you you were treated unjustly,” Harris said.
The barista at Starbucks’ Superior location was fired in 2022 after successfully leading the charge to get her store to become the first to be unionized in the state.
“She warned us an anti-union manager is gonna come in here, they’re going to drop the axe, they’re going to start really firing you for small infractions or things you didn’t know about, and low and behold, after a month of working with her, that’s exactly what she started doing,” Harris said of the temporary manager. “She started firing people for being a minute or two late, started firing people for dress code infractions.”
“In the fall of 2022, Harris was notified she allegedly mishandled counting the store’s safe, then received a final notice, despite not having any prior infractions during her employment,” CBS Colorado reported. “Harris was later accused of leaving the door unlocked and cash unattended.”
“I was her main target,” Harris said.
One month later, she was fired after joining coworkers in the Red Cup Rebellion, as employees walked off the job in a strike for contract negotiations.
“I went to the National Labor Relations Board in Denver and I brought my concerns to them, and said, ‘hey, I was just fired from the company, this company, I was engaged in organizing a union, and I’m pretty positive they fired me for union organizing,'” Harris said.
Starbucks fought back legally but lost to Harris.
Now the company plans to appeal the decision.
“We firmly disagree with the administrative law judge’s recommendations and intend to file exceptions — or an appeal — in this matter,” Starbucks spokesman Andrew Trull said. “The record demonstrates that Harris was separated following progressive discipline for violations of established safety, security and cash-handling policies, not in retaliation for their participation in, or support of, any concerted union activities.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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