Effort to reinstate fired Augusta Starbucks worker trying to unionize to go before judge

The National Labor Relations Board recently filed a complaint on behalf of fired Augusta Starbucks employee Jaysin Saxton, urging a judge to reinstate the barista and with backpay.

Saxton lost his job in August after earlier leading an effort to unionize at the coffee shop's location on Robert C. Daniel Parkway.

The NLRB complaint alleges that Saxton was dismissed because he participated in union activities, and that the dismissal was to discourage other employees from engaging in those activities, which is illegal. The complaint also charges that Starbucks, by failing to negotiate with the union over dismissing Saxton, is "failing and refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith."

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With the complaint, Saxton can now be represented by an NLRB attorney before an administrative law judge, said a union representative. The complaint asks that the judge order an official reminder from the company to all employees of their union rights, rehire Saxton and compensate him with backpay. Starbucks has until Dec. 22 to respond.