Sanders, Warren Slam Starbucks for “Unethical and Unlawful” Union Busting

Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) have condemned Starbucks for its ruthless campaign to stymie the growing union effort in its retail stores across the country and are asking the company to answer for its “unethical and unlawful” union-busting tactics.

In a letterOn Tuesday, lawmakers wrote to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz as well as Board of Directors Chair Mellody Holson. They expressed concern over the seemingly inexorable anti-union tactics the company uses while workers have waged an historic union campaign for the past year. They demanded that the company end its union busting practices and allow workers to organize freely.

Lawmakers highlighted several tactics used by the company to avoid unions. They claim they are in direct violation federal labor laws. On top of the company’s continual efforts to intimidateThe letter aims to coerce unionization employees and points out that Starbucks withheld a Increase in wages and benefits for trans health care, abortion travel, student loan repayment and better sick leave accrual from union members, moves which “appear to be illegal under the plain text of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).”

Indeed, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officials have said that Starbucks’s withholding of wage and benefits increases are illegal. The board is scheduled to attempt to prosecute the company for these actions at the end of this month — but, even if the board is able to force the company to face legal consequences for its actions, labor laws They are notoriously fragileHowever, it would not necessarily discourage the company from union busting.

“We are deeply troubled by Starbucks’s anti-union campaign, including the ongoing and illegal weaponization of benefits against unionizing workers, and the company’s brazen efforts to flout the NLRA,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to immediately end these tactics and recognize and bargain in good faith with unionized workers.”

The letter was also signed by Senators Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut. It asks that the company provide information about how managers were instructed to respond to the union as well as which benefits have been extended to non-union shops.

Starbucks was also required to disclose how much it spent on its union busting campaign by lawmakers. It is not unusual for companies to do so. spend millionsHigh-priced anti-union lawyers In our efforts toDissuade workers to join unions.

Starbucks’s anti-union campaign doesn’t appear to be slowing down. According to Starbucks Workers United, the company has closed another unionized location in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this week. This is the ninth unionized or unionizing store that’s been permanently closed in recent months, the union says, in what it calls “clear retaliation” for unionizing efforts.

According to the unions, the company has also fired over 110 union workers in recent months and has been delaying negotiations with its 220 unionized stores. After months of negotiations, the company fired over 110 union organizers in recent months. union pressuring the companyThe company can set dates for bargaining. announced last month that it would finally begin the bargaining process — despite some stores having won their union elections almost a year ago now.

Starbucks has been under pressure from progressive lawmakers to end its union-busting practices. In March, Sanders sent a letter to Schultz urging him to “do the right thing” and allow workers at the company to unionize. The Vermont independent has Continually supportedStarbucks workers unionized throughout their campaign, Boston workersAs They held the longest strike in Starbucks’s history and RallyingEncourage workers to continue carrying the torch for the company. A burgeoning labor movement.