Sens. Bernie Sanders and Howard Schultz squared off on Wednesday in a highly anticipated hearing about the company’s labor practices, which the former Starbucks CEO defended against criticism.
Schultz testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is chaired by Sanders, I-Vt., titled “No Company is Above the Law: The Need to End Illegal Union Busting at Starbucks.” “
It came after weeks of wrangling between the Sanders-led panel and Starbucks, which unsuccessfully urged the panel to hear testimony from someone other than Schultz, who officially exited the company on March 20. ,
“Strong unions are an important part of rebuilding the crumbling middle class in this country,” Sanders said in his opening statement, adding that as union activity increased, “corporations have engaged in an unprecedented amount of illegal union-busting activity.” level” and blamed Starbucks. , “Over the past 18 months, Starbucks has conducted the most aggressive and illegal union-busting campaign in our country’s modern history.”
The hearing, which lasted more than three hours, included a defense of Starbucks labor practices from Schultz as well as testimony from Maggie Carter, a Starbucks barista in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Jacin Saxton, who the committee said was “fired by Starbucks.” activist leader”. “Augusta, Georgia and other witnesses.
There were some tense exchanges between Sanders and Schulz during the hearing. At one point, the former Starbucks CEO pushed back at Sanders repeatedly labeling him a billionaire, calling the moniker “unfair.”
“I grew up in federally subsidized housing… My parents never owned a home. I came from nothing. I thought my whole life was based on the achievement of the American dream,” he said. “Yes, I have billions of dollars. I earned it, nobody gave it to me. And I’ve constantly shared it with the Starbucks people.”
Schultz received a warm welcome from Republicans on the committee, with ranking member Bill Cassidy, R-La., saying the hearing was “not a good faith effort to get the facts.”
“This is a smear campaign against one person and one company based on allegations that everyone knows are still under litigation,” Cassidy said. “Let’s not kid ourselves. This is not a fair and impartial hearing.” He also criticized the National Labor Relations Board for “putting its thumb on the scales of the unions”.
Schultz told the committee that Starbucks “is 100% committed to meeting our obligations as an employer under the National Labor Relations Act and committed in good faith to the first contracts for each unionized store.”
He said, “Every day, we wake up thinking about how we can put our people first to win. We do everything possible to demonstrate the values of heart and service.”
In response to Sanders’ aggressive questioning, Schultz repeatedly denied that Starbucks had violated the law and vowed to continue negotiating in “good faith” with union organizers.
Schultz also cited Starbucks’ pay and benefits, saying that while “unions have played an important role in American business for many years,” it is more prevalent with companies that mistreat workers.
He said, ‘We don’t do anything that is wrong. “And that’s why Starbucks doesn’t need a union.”
Sanders, the two-time Democratic presidential primary runner-up who has built a brand as a champion of labor unions, has taken a keen interest in Starbucks and Schultz.
A recent report by the Democratic majority Workers on Help Committee declared: “Under Schultz’s leadership, Starbucks has become the most aggressively union-busting company in America.”
It said that the NLRB “has filed more than 80 complaints against Starbucks for violating federal labor law and has filed more than 500 unfair labor practices allegations against this company. These violations are classified as ‘crimes’.” involves the illegal firing of more than a dozen Starbucks workers for exercising their right to form a union and to collectively bargain for better pay, benefits, and working conditions.”
A Sanders communications aide said the report was issued to counter the company’s claims so that viewers “don’t get mixed up in a Frappuccino by Starbucks’ PR team.”
Gianna Reeve, a Starbucks worker in Buffalo, New York, and organizing member of Starbucks Workers United said in a statement that the union hopes the hearing will “expose Starbucks’ illegal union-busting campaign and expose the truth that Starbucks really is.” How does he treat his employees? , Reeve stated that “You can’t be a progressive company and be anti-union.”
First-term Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma used his time to attack Sanders, claiming the Vermont senator is worth $8 million and shouldn’t criticize other wealthy people.
Sanders said he was lying, to which Mullin said it was a matter of public record.
“You’re probably seeing some right-wing internet content,” Sanders said. “it is not true.”
In his own questioning, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, referred to Schultz’s previous presidential bid.
He said, “I recognize at the outset that there is some irony for a non-coffee-drinking Mormon conservative defending a Democrat candidate for president at perhaps one of the most liberal companies in America.” “I also think it’s somewhat enriching that you’re being grilled by people who never had the opportunity to create a single job.”
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The committee on Wednesday opened its remarks on “Ingratitude is man” by quoting novelist Ayn Rand.
“Don’t scoff at one of the great American success stories,” he said. “I don’t want to be part of any witch hunt that affects any American business.”