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Starbucks fires Manhattan union organizer over a remark

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 8, 2006

Starbucks Corp. has fired the co-founder of a union claiming to represent employees at six of its Manhattan coffee houses.

Daniel Gross, a barista and organizer for IWW Starbucks Workers Union, a branch of the Industrial Workers of the World, said Monday that he is challenging his termination, which followed a company investigation into an allegation that he made a threatening remark to a district manager at a recent union rally.

Gross, 27, who has led union organizing efforts at Starbucks for the past three years, countered that he was simply making a statement of solidarity when he told District Manager Allison Marx that a fellow employee should not be fired.

Gross said the IWW filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday alleging he was wrongfully terminated.

Realty developer promotes pair

St. Joe Co., a real estate development company, promoted Britt Greene to chief operating officer and Chris Corr to the newly created position of chief strategy officer. Greene, 51, was previously the president of the St. Joe Towns & Resorts and St. Joe Commercial units. He replaces Kevin M. Twomey, who in February announced plans to retire. Corr, 42, was St. Joe's senior vice president of strategic planning.

GM files claim against Delphi

General Motors Corp. filed a multibillion-dollar claim against auto parts supplier Delphi Corp., a former subsidiary, which has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Delphi said in a document filed Monday that the automaker submitted the claim July 31, the deadline for filing unsecured claims against the auto parts supplier.

[Last modified August 8, 2006, 00:42:29]