STARBUCKS workers in the US state of New York have launched an urgent appeal to help a pro-union whistleblower struggling with leukaemia who was sacked after giving evidence to the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB).

Brittany Harrison was a manager at a Starbucks cafe in Arizona until her contract was terminated after she exposed the global coffee chain’s union-busting efforts.

She learnt that Starbucks was planning to send managers and executives from across the country to the city of Buffalo, where staff at three branches had filed papers seeking union recognition.