Starbucks union leader fired in Raleigh, union claims

A Starbucks union leader in Raleigh is claiming she was fired this weekend days ahead of a union election.

Starbucks district manager Ed Harvey fired union leader Sharon Gilman on Saturday after an incident when a sink fell on her as she was working, according to a release from SBWorkers United.

“I believe I was wrongfully terminated because of my activity in the union,” Gilman said in the news release. “I believe I am being used as an example to intimidate my coworkers from voting yes.”

A spokesperson from Starbucks told WRAL News that Gilman's separation is unrelated to unionization efforts. The spokesperson said Gilman was fired for violating workplace safety procedures and policies after the completion of an internal investigation.

Gilman worked at the Wake Forest and Six Forks Starbucks in Raleigh.

On Feb. 13, Gilman was working at the three-compartment sink in the back room of the store when it collapsed from a wall, nearly injuring her. SBWorkers United’s release claims that Starbucks fired Gilman for “misuse of company property.” The release also claims that Starbucks alleges that Gilman intentionally pulled the sink off the wall.

“I heard her scream when it happened and could see how scared she was when the sink collapsed on her,” Elsa Engelbrecht said in the release. “She had no reason or means to break it on her own and everyone who worked that night knows that.”

SBWorkers United’s release claims Harvey ignored the “eyewitness testimony and fired [Gilman] anyways.”

The release also claims the company is harassing and retaliating against union leaders and supporters in stores nationwide since the return of CEO Howard Schultz.

“Our ballots are supposed to be mailed at the start of this week and the incident they’re firing her for happened two months ago,” said Alyssa Watkins, another union leader at the Raleigh store. “It’s very clear this is an effort to stop our unionization.”

On Monday, SBWorkers United is planning to protest from 10 a.m. to noon outside the Wake Forest and Six Forks store. The group would like to see Gilman reinstated. There are also plans to file a charge on Monday at the National Labor Relations Board.