Starbucks sues union over pro-Hamas social media post — Workers United responds with countersuit

Starbucks filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against a workers' union that represents nearly 9,000 of its employees after the union shared a post on social media in support of Hamas' recent terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 1,300 Israelis.

Starbucks accused Starbucks Workers United of damaging the company's reputation by sharing social media posts supporting Hamas. In a now-deleted post on X, the workers' union wrote, "Solidarity with Palestine!" It also "liked" a post by one of its members that stated, "Once again, free Palestine."

The following day, Starbucks released a statement distancing itself from the workers' union and condemning the acts of terror.

"We unequivocally condemn acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members. Workers United's words and actions belong to them, and them alone," Starbucks stated in part.

Earlier this week, the coffee company threatened Workers United with a lawsuit over the insensitive posts, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. The letter demanded that the union "immediately cease and desist" from using the company's name and logo. Starbucks further accused Workers United of causing "irreparable harm" to the company, the outlet reported.

Starbucks said it received over 1,000 complaints about the union's controversial social media post. It also claimed that it had to deal with hostile customers and threatening phone calls due to the union's support of Hamas.

The coffeehouse pulled the trigger and filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, accusing Workers United of trademark infringement. The company insists that the union stop using the name "Starbucks Workers United" and change its logo. The union is using a circular green logo similar to Starbucks'.

Workers United responded by filing a countersuit in a federal court in Pennsylvania. The union is requesting that it be allowed to continue using its current name and logo. It also accused Starbucks of defamation, claiming the company asserted the group supports "terrorism, hate, and violence."

In a letter to Starbucks, Workers United President Lynne Fox accused the company of "seeking to exploit the ongoing tragedy in the Middle East to bolster the company's anti-union campaign."

Workers United noted that several other unions "have specifically incorporated the employer's name in their titles," including the Amazon Labor Union and the National Football League Players Association.

The union declined a request for comment from the New York Post.

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