A Victory for NYC Starbucks Workers

"New York City ordered Starbucks to pay $35 million to more than 15,000 New York City employees because of alleged workplace violations from 2021 to 2024, as reported by Gothamist on Monday, December 1. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection investigated the coffee corporation in 2022, per the website, over employees not being given regular work schedules and randomly getting hours cut, which are violations of the Fair Workweek law."

"Fresh off revealing the winners of Michelin Guide's Northeast region for New York, the French tire company announces it is getting into winery ratings. The new Michelin Grapes (duh, since stars are for restaurant dining and keys for hotels) will rate wineries and vineyards in wine-producing regions with one ("very good producers"), two ("excellent producers who stand out as exceptional [...] for both quality and consistency") and three grapes ("exceptional producers" where people drink anything "with complete confidence"), as well as selected designations."

"The announcement invites more scrutiny for wine lists at New York's starred restaurants, particularly those reaching for two- and three stars. The new guide will start in 2026, focusing on France's famed Burgundy and Bordeaux regions. Wine is already part of the Michelin Guide's criteria for rating restaurants; there's also the sommelier award ushered in starting in 2019. This year's recipient was Chinatown Chinese American wine bar Lei 's Annie Shi."

New York City ordered Starbucks to pay $35 million to more than 15,000 employees for alleged workplace violations from 2021 to 2024. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection investigated the company in 2022 over failures to provide regular work schedules and for randomly cutting hours, which violate the Fair Workweek law. Starbucks Workers United has been striking nationwide since November 13 as part of the Red Cup Rebellion, and figures such as Zohran Mamdani joined a Brooklyn picket line. Michelin announced a Michelin Grapes rating for wineries launching in 2026 in Burgundy and Bordeaux, and Chelsea Japanese restaurant Bessou is running a Bryant Park pop-up serving yaki onigiris.

Read at Eater NY