labor issues

Brazil Rescued 200+ Coffee Workers from ‘Slave-Like’ Conditions in 2024

More than one in 10 of the people rescued from what the Brazilian government described as “slave-like” and “degrading” working conditions last year were coffee workers. In total, Brazil’s Ministry...

2025.02.04

BrazilBrazil Ministry of Labor and EmploymentFarmer IssuesfarmworkersIndustryInternationallabor issuesMarket Newsmodern day slaveryOriginslaverySouth AmericaSustainabilityコーヒー

Labor Violations Alleged in Starbucks and Nestlé Supply Chains in China

Independent field investigations in China’s Yunnan Province found labor violations at coffee farms that supply coffees purchased and certified as sustainable by coffee giants Starbucks and Nestlé, according to a...

2024.12.05

4CAsiaCAFE Practicescertificationschild laborChinaChina Labor WatchCorporateCraft/OperationsFarmer IssuesfarmworkersIndustryInternationallabor issuesMacroNestleOriginpiece-rate payRoastingStarbucksSustainabilityYunnanコーヒー

US Department of Labor Sues New York Coffee Chain Over Overtime Pay

A New York City specialty coffee chain called White Noise Coffee is facing a lawsuit from the United States Department of Labor (DOL) alleging violations related to overtime pay and...

2024.10.14

Barista NewsBusiness OperationsCorporateDepartment of Labor Wage and Hour DivisionHan FlanaganHell's KitchenIndustryJeffrey S. Rogofflabor issueslawsuitslegal issuesManhattanNew YorkNew York CityNortheastovertimeQueensRetailUnited StatesUS Department of LaborVanesa KimWhite Noise Coffeeコーヒー

ILO Leading $10.8 Million Child Labor in Coffee Project

The number of child laborers has been rising in recent years, reaching 160 million — or one in 10 children globally — as of the latest report from the United...

2024.07.09

AfricaAsiaCentral Americachild laborEuropean UnionEventsFAOFarmer IssuesIndustryInternationalInternational Labour OrganizationInternational Trade Centrelabor issuesnonprofitsOriginsupply chain issuessupply chain managementSustainabilityUNICEFUnited Nations Food and Agriculture Organizationコーヒー

Philadelphia’s OCF Coffee Closing All Shops After Union Push

Citing legal costs associated with a new unionization effort, the owner of small Philadelphia-based specialty coffee chain OCF Coffee House announced the closure of all three locations. A group of...

2024.06.12

Barista NewsBluestone LaneBusiness OperationsElixr Coffeelabor issuesLocal 80 PhiladelphiaNortheastOCF Coffee HouseOCF RealtyOri FeibushReAnimator Coffee RoastersRetailUltimo CoffeeUnionsWorkers Unitedコーヒー

Consumer Group Sues Starbucks Over ‘Ethical Sourcing’ Claims

A prominent United States consumer advocacy organization today filed a lawsuit against Starbucks Coffee Company alleging deceptive claims regarding ethical coffee sourcing. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the National...

2024.01.11

Business OperationsCAFE PracticesCorporateCraft/Operationsfarmworkersgreen coffeeIndustrylabor issueslawsuitslegal issuesMacroMarketingNational Consumers LeagueNorthwestProductsRepórter BrasilRetailRoastingSally GreenbergStarbucksUnited Statesコーヒー

Starbucks Workers United Organizing ‘Red Cup Day’ Strike

Labor organizing group Starbucks Workers United is coordinating a strike on Red Cup Day, an annual marketing event by Starbucks promoting holiday-themed cups and messaging. The union organizing group is...

2023.11.15

Barista NewsBusiness OperationsCorporatecupsIndustrylabor issuesMarketingorganized laborProductsRetailStarbucksStarbucks Workers Unitedto-go cupsUnionsUnited Statesコーヒー

Starbucks Raising Barista Pay, Launching ‘North American’ Barista Championship

In a move likely to reverberate through the coffee retail industry, Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks said it is raising retail worker pay by a minimum of 3% beginning Jan. 1,...

2023.11.07

Barista Newsbarista wagesBusiness OperationsCorporateHoward SchultzIndustrylabor issuesLaxman NarasimhanMarketingorganized laborRetailStarbucksUnionsUnited Stateswagesコーヒー

Maine’s Coffee By Design Voluntarily Recognizes Employee Union

The owners of Portland, Maine-based roasting and retail company Coffee By Design have voluntarily recognized an employee union among baristas. A joint announcement yesterday from Coffee By Design and Local...

2023.10.27

Barista NewsBusiness OperationsCoffee By DesignCorporateIndustryJason Shedlocklabor issuesLIUNAMaineMary Allen LindemannNortheastorganized laborPortlandRetailUnionsUnited Statesコーヒー

Starbucks’ Pay Hikes to Non-Unionized Workers Violated Labor Laws, Judge Rules

A federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled that Starbucks Coffee Company violated federal labor laws when it improved wages and benefits for tens of thousands of its employees throughout the...

2023.10.03

Barista NewsBusiness OperationsCorporateHoward SchultzIndustrylabor issueslegal issuesMara-Louise AnzaloneNational Labor Relations Boardorganized laborRetailStarbucksunionizationUnited Statesコーヒー