New York City sues Starbucks for firing union-organizing barista

Department of consumer and worker protection says coffee chain violated just cause' protections in dismissing Austin Locke

A New York City agency overseeing workplace affairs said on Friday it sued Starbucks because the coffee chain illegally fired a longtime barista and union organizer shortly after employees in his store voted to join a union.

The department of consumer and worker protection called the case on behalf of Austin Locke, a Starbucks employee for almost six years, the city's first for violating just cause" protections under a 2017 law meant to protect fast-food workers.