San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cowett order Starbucks to pay its California baristas more than $100 million in back tips that the coffee chain paid to shift supervisors.

The ruling was from a class action suite by former and current baristas. The back tips totaled $86 million plus interest. She added that it was in violation of California state law which prohibits managers and supervisors from sharing employee tips and issued an injunction preventing Starbucks’ shift supervisors from sharing in future tips.

Score 1 for the Baristas!

Posted by Erik Blackerby, ConsumerSpy.org on Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 10:35 pm.