Sanders prepares subpoena for Starbucks CEO to face questions on labor practices
“Unfortunately, Mr. Schultz has given us no choice,” Chair Bernie Sanders said in a statement.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is moving to subpoena Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to face lawmakers’ questions about the company’s labor practices.
The summons, which would have to be approved by the committee Sanders heads, comes amid a wave of union organizing efforts at the coffee chain’s stores. Union leaders, the National Labor Relations Board and Democratic lawmakers have accused the company of using illegal tactics to head off unionization; Starbucks has denied the accusations.
The company declined an earlier request from Sanders (I-Vt.) for Schultz to voluntarily appear before the committee that oversees labor issues.
“He has denied meeting and document requests, skirted congressional oversight attempts, and refused to answer any of the serious questions we have asked,” Sanders said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Mr. Schultz has given us no choice, but to subpoena him.”
The Senate HELP Committee, which Sanders leads, will vote on the subpoena March 8.
It will also vote on whether to authorize an investigation into “major corporations’ labor law violations,” according to the statement from Sanders’ office.
The votes will be followed by a hearing on union organizing that will include testimony from several labor leaders, among them AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.
Starbucks last month declined to have Schultz testify for a hearing scheduled March 9. Sanders and committee Democrats asked him to speak about the company’s compliance with federal labor law and its treatment of pro-union workers.
Starbucks offered its chief public affairs officer and executive vice president, AJ Jones, in lieu of Schultz, citing the CEO’s planned departure from the helm of the coffee chain.