Law360 Covers Dispute Between Union and Starbucks Distributor

Willig, Williams, & Davidson attorney Joseph Richardson was recently quoted in Law360’s article about a dispute between Teamster Local 710 and Starbucks distributor Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) over an arbitration award. The award compels QCD to compensate workers for missed wages when hours were reduced at the beginning of the pandemic.

Local 710 and QCD filed dueling summary judgment motions urging U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall to side with their opposing views over arbitrator Peter R. Meyers’ December 2020 award. Meyers found that the pandemic was not an act of God due to its “slow-moving” nature. Therefore, the company could not be excused from its hours guarantee under the collective bargaining agreement, according to the award.

The union is represented by Willig, Williams, & Davidson attorneys Joseph Richardson and John R. Bielski.

“There is a substantial amount of money on the table for the bargaining unit employees,” Richardson

said. “These are employees who showed up to work and kept the company going during a very difficult time, and they want what they’re entitled to under the contract.”

Read: Starbucks Distributor, Union Spar Over ‘Act Of God’ CBA Spat (subscription is required)