Starbucks’ Howard Schultz Returns as CEO Amid Union Wave | Eater

"At its annual shareholder meeting leadership largely avoided discussion of an expanding unionization wave affecting more than 100 stores nationwide even as executive changes and new initiatives were announced. The longtime CEO retired and a returning former CEO—who has publicly opposed unions for decades and has been accused by workers of involvement in anti-union efforts since organizing began in Buffalo in 2021—took the helm. Meanwhile the company rolled out plans for electric-vehicle charging at many locations, allowed reusable cups for mobile orders, and pledged to raise starting wages to $15–$23 per hour within months, add seniority pay increases, and hire up to 5,000 employees a week. Those announcements came amid a March 15 National Labor Relations Board complaint alleging retaliatory and discriminatory actions at a Phoenix store, including threats of termination, selective enforcement of policies, and firing a union supporter; if the company loses it could be required to notify employees of their right to unionize and pay restitution. Union organizers say promises about pay and benefits are inadequate without workplace representation and binding protections, and a group of more than 75 major investors has urged a neutral stance on unionization, arguing that protecting workers’ rights benefits both employees and the business. Organizers continue to launch campaigns at new stores daily, and many expect pressure from investors and the stock market to shape how this dispute unfolds." - Amy McCarthy