A Starbucks store in Ithaca, New York is shutting down after unionization efforts.
On Friday, Starbucks told its employees at an Ithaca location near Cornell University that the store would close in a week.
All three locations in Ithaca recently voted to unionize. Leaders believe the closure is retaliation of the unionization vote.
RELATED: Three Starbucks stores in Ithaca vote to unionize
The company says it comes down to business trends. However, union organizers say its a method of intimidation.
For its part, Starbucks cited issues with the store’s grease trap as a reason for closure.
NEW: We've obtained the email sent to unionized Starbucks workers in Ithaca announcing the closure of their store.
It wasn’t sent by Starbucks. The letter came from Alan I. Model, from the union-busting firm Littler Mendelson. He handles negotiations.
This is clear retaliation. pic.twitter.com/7yp7MglzHN
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) June 6, 2022
Bek MacLean, an employee at the store, says the move to close a store is an example of what the company is willing to do to prevent others from unionizing.
“I feel like they are also doing this to scare all of the other people who are trying to unionize right now to not do it,” MacLean told CNYCentral. “Just the risk of they might close your store down, they’re trying to scare people out of it.”
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