Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz appeared before Congress on Wednesday to respond to claims that the company engaged in union busting.
Schultz stepped down from the role of CEO on March 20 and was succeeded by Laxman Narasimhan, who had spent the last six months learning about the company.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, questioned Schultz’s involvement in firing or retaliating against any pro-union chain worker.
- Sanders also accused Starbucks of stalling on collective bargaining agreements, betting that workers would give up and leave the coffee chain.
- Schultz claimed that Starbucks hadn’t broken any federal labor laws, and he was confident that the allegations would be proven false.
- According to the National Labor Relations Board, about 300 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize under Starbucks Workers United.
- Schultz is Starbucks’ fifth-largest shareholder, with a 1.9% stake in the company.
- He will continue to serve on Starbucks’ board.
