Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz defended the coffee giant’s labor practices and denied union busting Wednesday in his testimony before a Senate committee chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders. His appearance, along with his Starbucks coffee cup, came after a lengthy refusal that nearly led to a subpoena vote.
The hearing, named “No Company Is Above the Law: The Need to End Illegal Union Busting at Starbucks,” had Democrat senators criticizing Starbucks’ alleged labor-law violations and Republican senators defending the company’s actions, slamming Sanders for being biased, and criticizing the National Labor Relations Board. The crowd in attendance included Starbucks workers and union representatives.
Sanders said in his opening remarks that he would ask Schultz if he would commit to exchange proposals with the union as a first step toward collective bargaining. Schultz declined.
