Two Philadelphia Starbucks baristas who were fired in 2020 after helping to launch an organizing effort have won their jobs back, as well as back pay, the National Labor Relations Board has decided.
TJ Bussiere and Echo Nowakowska previously turned down a settlement offer from Starbucks — they have said it would have been $50,000 each — in order to have their case heard in court. According to the NLRB, more than 90% of unfair labor practices cases end with a settlement.
The two were baristas at the Starbucks at South Broad Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, where they were part of the group that moved to organize workers. An administrative judge ordered their reinstatement and backpay in 2021, which Starbucks appealed. The board ultimately sided with the workers, rejecting Starbucks' arguments that the two employees were fired lawfully.
