The US Supreme Court justices appeared to side with Starbucks on Tuesday as they heard arguments regarding the coffee chain's challenge to a judicial order mandating the rehiring of seven employees at a Tennessee cafe who were fired for pursuing efforts to unionize. The case could potentially have significant implications for labor practices and the power of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to address complaints under federal law.

At the heart of the case is the legal standard that federal courts must apply when issuing a preliminary injunction requested by the NLRB under the National Labor Relations Act. Such injunctions are intended to halt unfair labor practices while the board resolves complaints. Starbucks argues that if stricter criteria were applied, as used by other courts in non-labor disputes, the outcome of the case would have been different.

During the hearing, several conservative justices expressed agreement with Starbucks, arguing that courts should have the primary role in determining the "likelihood of success" in a case before issuing an injunction. Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out that other federal agencies are subject to the stricter standard, noting that it was unusual for the NLRB to be treated differently.

However, the justice department lawyer, Austin Raynor, defended the NLRB's position, stating that they only seek this type of injunction in the most deserving cases. Raynor emphasized that the NLRB receives thousands of unfair labor charges every year and only pursues a select few.

Both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pushed back, with Roberts suggesting that the cases pursued by the board may be the most vulnerable, while Jackson reminded the court that the NLRB has sought this type of injunction in a very small number of cases.

The case holds significant importance for Starbucks, as approximately 400 of their US locations have already unionized, involving over 10,000 employees. Allegations of unlawful labor practices from both sides have been lodged with the NLRB, including claims of firing union supporters and spying on workers during labor campaigns. Starbucks has denied any wrongdoing, asserting their respect for workers' rights to choose whether to unionize.

In a rare show of cooperation, both parties reached an agreement in February to create a framework for organizing and collective bargaining, potentially resolving numerous pending legal disputes. The case originated in 2022 when the workers at the Memphis Poplar Avenue store became some of the first to unionize, resulting in their subsequent firing and later voting to join Workers United.

The Supreme Court's ruling on the matter is anticipated to be announced by the end of June, and its decision could have far-reaching implications for labor practices and the power of the NLRB in addressing complaints related to unfair labor practices under federal law.