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The anti-union disputes that led to the closing of the Ithaca Starbucks store in its Collegetown location will likely continue until, workers hope, the NLRB rules against the company, which is currently facing 212 unfair labor practice cases that have been filed against Starbucks across 25 states. One former Ithaca worker, now working this summer in a unionized store in Virginia, reported strong anti-unionization attempts at the store, similar to what seven terminated employees in a Memphis, Tennessee store experienced in March when they started a union campaign. Since December, over 300 stores have filed for union elections, with about 169 winning their elections. The coffee company has denied its attempts at retaliation; meanwhile, over 40 employees have been terminated at stores since December who were involved in union organizing. Workers point to the troubling statement made by the company's CEO recently on not being able to embrace unions. In May, the company announced wage increases and other benefits for workers, but appeared to stop short at guaranteeing implementation in stores that have unionized, or where union activity is taking place. In June, the company appeared to apply the same filter for extending travel benefits for abortion access to workers. Cathy Creighton, labor law attorney and director of Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab, pointed out that employers are not forced to reach a collective bargaining agreement, and that workers can go on strike, but that may jeopardize their employment. Still, with 68% of Americans favoring unions these days, it may appear Starbucks is fighting too hard, she says. Starbucks Workers United has set up a $1 million fund to help striking workers recover lost wages and other benefits.