Howard Schultz speaks onstage at The Latest York Times DealBook DC policy forum on June 9, 2022 in Washington.
Leigh Vogel | Getty Images
Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz declined an invite from 11 senators to testify on March 9 on the coffee company’s compliance with federal labor law, in line with a letter seen by Reuters late on Tuesday.
Last week, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who chairs a committee on labor issues, and 10 other members of the committee asked Schultz to reply by Feb. 14 whether he would participate.
Schultz, who re-joined Starbucks as interim CEO in April 2022, will “fully transition” out of the role next month, said Starbucks acting executive vice chairman and general counsel Zabrina Jenkins within the letter.
“Given the timing of the transition, his relinquishment of any operating role in the corporate going forward and what we understand to be the topic of the hearing, we imagine one other senior leader with ongoing responsibilities is best suited to handle these matters,” Jenkins wrote.
Sanders, who last month took over as chair of the Health, Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said last week Starbucks “has fought their staff every step of the best way, including refusing to bargain a primary contract in good faith, delay tactics, and a big escalation in union busting.”
Sanders’ office didn’t immediately comment on Starbucks’ letter.
Starbucks said executive vice chairman and chief public affairs officer AJ Jones II is out there and is one of the best person to handle workforce policy matters. Jones is a former senior aide to Democratic Representative James Clyburn.
Starbucks Staff United has won elections at greater than 260 U.S. stores and has lost about 70 elections since late 2021. The union is looking for increased pay and advantages, improved health and safety conditions and protections against unfair firings and discipline.
Starbucks says it respects the fitting of its employees to arrange and to have interaction in lawful union activities. The corporate says it has held greater than 80 single-store contract bargaining sessions since October.
