U.S. Senate panel to vote to subpoena Starbucks CEO to testify

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate committee will vote subsequent week on issuing a subpoena for Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) Leader Government Howard Schultz to testify at a listening to at the corporation’s compliance with federal exertions regulation, its chairman Senator Bernie Sanders stated on Wednesday.

The Senate Well being, Schooling, Hard work and Pensions Committee additionally will vote on authorizing the panel to research exertions regulation violations via primary firms, Sanders added.

Democrats have criticized Starbucks, pronouncing the corporate has now not bargained in excellent religion with employees becoming a member of unions. Starbucks has stated it respects the proper of its workers to prepare and to interact in lawful union actions and denies wrongdoing.

Schultz closing month declined a call for participation from 11 senators to testify prior to the committee on March 9.

“He has denied assembly and record requests, skirted congressional oversight makes an attempt and refused to respond to any of the intense questions now we have requested,” Sanders stated of Schultz. “Sadly, Mr. Schultz has given us no selection however to subpoena him. A multi-billion buck company like Starbucks can not proceed to wreck federal exertions regulation with impunity. The time has come to carry Starbucks and Mr. Schultz responsible.”

Starbucks didn’t straight away reply to a request for remark.

After the deliberate March 8 vote at the subpoena, the committee will cling a listening to the similar day on employees’ rights to enroll in unions and can function AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and Teamsters President Sean O’Brien.

Schultz, who rejoined Starbucks as intervening time CEO in April 2022, will “absolutely transition” out of the function in March, the Starbucks performing government vp and basic recommend, Zabrina Jenkins, stated in a Feb. 14 letter, writing that “we imagine some other senior chief with ongoing obligations is most fitted to handle those issues.”

Workers at greater than 280 out of its kind of 9,000 company-operated U.S. places have voted to enroll in a exertions union since 2021. The union is looking for larger pay and advantages, stepped forward well being and protection prerequisites and protections towards unfair firings and self-discipline.

Reporting via David Shepardson; Modifying via Will Dunham and Chizu Nomiyama

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Consider Ideas.