Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I I N O. X X V I I I N OV E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 2 2 6 B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state Own your retirement with a healthy smile protected by high-quality dental insurance at an affordable price. DeltaDentalCoversMe.com YOUR TEETH NEVER RETIRE. PROTECT THEM WITH SMILE POWER! NEDD_1_2 PAGE_ Senior V3.indd 1 8/19/19 8:06 AM P O L I T I C S & C O. Starbucks pushes back on Pingree claim of 'union busting' B y A n n F i s h e r T he Maine AFL-CIO and a U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, slammed Starbucks for its plans to close its Old Port shop in what they say is a clear union-busting move, but a Starbucks spokesperson is firmly refuting that allegation. Pingree, other congressional leaders and the AFL- CIO on Nov. 15 called on the National Labor Relations Board to investigate Starbucks. The call for accountability came after the Seattle- based retail giant announced it would be closing the shop at Middle and Exchange streets by Dec. 23, after employees voted to pursue unionization Oct. 18. "Starbucks' decision to close one of its busiest stores in Portland less than a month after workers formed a union appears to be a brazen violation of the National Labor Relations Act," Pingree said. "The widespread practice of large multi-billion-dollar corpo- rations punishing workers who collectively bargain is despicable. They must be held accountable." Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney added: "Less than a month after workers at the Starbucks in the Old Port voted overwhelmingly to unionize, the company — in an act of illegal union busting — has announced it is closing the store. This is the most egregious anti-union tactic and it is a blatant violation of the right of workers to unionize free from retaliation under the National Labor Relations Act." In response to an inquiry from Mainebiz, a Starbucks spokeswoman said, "Any claims of union busting are false. … We routinely review the partner and customer experience in all our stores, to see if the store is thriv- ing, partners are feeling supported, and that we are meeting customer needs." The lease for 176 Middle St. will expire April 30, 2023, but Starbucks must leave the building by Jan. 1 due to renovations, according to the emailed response. "After careful consideration, Starbucks has made the decision to close the Middle & Exchange Street store. Our last day at this location will be Friday, December 23, 2022," the spokeswoman said. "The space is no longer meeting business needs given its small size so a lease renewal will not occur." Starbucks has nearby stores at 145 Commercial St. and 594 Congress St. Unionized stores Citing pay and safety concerns, of the 9,000 Starbucks in the U.S., 242 locations have now unionized. In July, the Biddeford Starbucks became the first Maine location to unionize; workers at the Starbucks at the corner of Middle and Exchange Streets in the Old Port are organizing to become the second union- ized location in the state. Following reports that increased pay and benefits were withheld from unionizing Starbucks employees nationwide, Pingree and 30 of her colleagues urged the company to work with them. In a letter sent to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in early October, the lawmakers said the alleged dis- crimination "could set an alarming precedent that, in our opinion, is not consistent with U.S. labor laws, including the National Labor Relations Act." The congressional delegation urged "both parties to work together, mend differences and unite to help build an economy that works for everyone." P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N The lease for Starbucks at the corner of Middle and Exchange streets will expire April 30, 2023, but Starbucks must leave the building Jan. 1 due to renovations, a company spokesperson says.

• Cover