Bernie Sanders grilled the former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz about the company’s illegal anti-union practices
by Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
Just weeks after the National Labor Relations Board accused Starbucks of engaging in “egregious and widespread misconduct” to prevent employees from unionizing, the company’s longtime CEO Howard Schultz appeared before the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday to answer questions.

Committee Chair Bernie Sanders of Vermont grilled Schultz on the company’s union-busting record and demanded an end to retaliation against workers. Since 2021, nearly 300 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize, but the company has responded by firing many organizers and shuttering unionized stores, among other tactics. Schultz is worth over $3 billion and has led Starbucks for much of its history, most recently as interim CEO for the last year as a permanent replacement was found. He stepped down on March 20. We feature excerpts from the hearing.
Recent Posts
Workers Are Leaving the Trump Coalition
March 15, 2026
Take Action Now New survey data show that many of Donald Trump’s 2024 working-class voters are already wavering. But most aren’t turning to Democrats…
The Billionaires’ War
March 14, 2026
Take Action Now The ultrawealthy put Trump in power but other people will pay the priceBy Paul Krugman, Substack It becomes clearer with each…
The Quiet Way Trump Has Made Life Easier For Polluters
March 12, 2026
Take Action Now It’s not just about environmental rollbacks: Trump and Lee Zeldin have presided over a striking decline in the EPA enforcing existing…
Coalition Demands Schumer, Jeffries Step Down Over Failure to Fight ‘War-Crazed’ Trump
March 12, 2026
Take Action Now “Schumer and Jeffries have shown that they cannot be trusted to prevent more wars, more threats of wars, or the transfer of another…




