Buffalo Starbucks labor organizer resigns

FILE — Pro-union pins sit on a table during a watch party for Starbucks’ employees union election, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. Starbucks is asking the…

FILE — Pro-union pins sit on a table during a watch party for Starbucks’ employees union election, Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. Starbucks is asking the National Labor Relations Board to temporarily suspend all union elections at its U.S. stores in response to allegations of improper coordination between regional NLRB officials and the union. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File)

by: Emily Miller

Posted: Sep 14, 2022 / 12:03 PM EDT

Updated: Sep 14, 2022 / 12:03 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Jaz Brisack, a high-profile labor organizer, resigned from her position with Starbucks.

Bristack helped lead the unionization of a Starbucks location in downtown Buffalo in 2021, kicking off a national movement. At least 238 stores have voted to unionize since.

Bristack said the company forced her out due to her union leadership and refused to accommodate her availability requests for months. She said the lack of accommodation has hurt her coworkers because the store is often understaffed.

Starbucks denied treating her differently because of her union activity.

Emily Miller is a digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2022. See more of her work here.