Starbucks union organizers testify to council about alleged unfair labor practices and firings

Several Starbucks workers and union representatives used the meeting’s public comment period to urge the council to support workers they say were wrongfully terminated and to hold Starbucks accountable for alleged unfair labor practices.

Bruce Halstead of Starbucks Workers United testified he was wrongfully terminated from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery after a May dress‑code incident under a new company policy he said targeted union organizers. “I was wrongfully terminated from Starbucks Reserve roastery under dress code violations,” Halstead said during public comment, describing disciplinary and promotional inconsistencies at his store and asserting he was targeted because of union organizing.

Cecilia Coulter, a barista and union member at the Georgetown location, said unsafe working conditions persisted for weeks before the company closed the store for repairs and directed workers to seek unemployment rather than provide temporary shifts. She said workers walked out twice before Starbucks acted and urged the council to support fired partners’ reinstatement and stronger labor protections.

Council members did not take immediate action but heard testimony and acknowledged the issues raised by workers. Union representatives said they will continue pressing for reinstatements and a first contract for organizing stores across the region.