Attorney General James Applauds Buffalo Starbucks Employees’ for Forming Company’s Second Union in the Nation

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement applauding Starbucks employees in Buffalo for successfully forming the company’s second union in the nation, following their first win in December:

“New Yorkers are continuing to show the nation and the world the power of workers uniting. I congratulate Starbucks employees in Buffalo for now successfully unionizing two locations in the area, and building an undeniable movement in the process. I trust that we will continue to see more successful organization efforts throughout the country, and I will continue to stand with workers in this important fight.”

Attorney General James has consistently fought for workers’ rights and stood in solidarity with workers to demand fairer pay and stronger protections. Last month, she released a statement applauding the Starbucks unionization efforts in Buffalo. In October 2021, Attorney General James stood shoulder to shoulder with members of CWA District 1 in Buffalo and demanded fair treatment for the workers in their fight for a fair contract with Catholic Health System.

Additionally, in October 2021, Attorney General James recovered $2.7 million for 250 Westchester hotel workers who were unlawfully fired without adequate notice from the Doral Arrowwood Hotel and Conference Center.

In August, Attorney General James, as a part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, called on the U.S. Senate to protect hardworking Americans by passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 (PRO Act). The PRO Act provides protections for workers trying to organize by strengthening and modernizing key parts of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which enshrines the fundamental rights to organize, unionize, and bargain collectively.

In July, Attorney General James secured $590,000 for over 1,000 airline workers subjected to minimum wage violations from the airline service company Eulen America (Eulen) for failing to reimburse employees more than half a million dollars for the laundering costs of their required uniforms that was unlawfully deducted from paychecks.

In June, Attorney General James recovered over $90,000 in restitution for Albany nurses subjected to illegal fines by Albany Med Health System.