Bernie Sanders Roasts Howard Schultz For 'Union Busting' At Starbucks Hearing

Starbucks co-founder and former CEO Howard Schultz squared off with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Senate Democrats on Wednesday in a high-profile hearing about union-busting allegations against the coffee chain. 

Sanders began the hearing by saying Starbucks had waged “the most aggressive and illegal union-busting campaign in the modern history of our country” over the past 18 months. 

“That union-busting campaign has been led by Howard Schultz ... who is with us this morning only under the threat of subpoena,” Sanders added.

Throughout the hearing Schultz ― who stepped down as Starbucks CEO last week ― denied the company had violated workers’ rights, dismissing recent rulings by administrative law judges that found otherwise.

“These are allegations and Starbucks has not broken the law,” Schultz told Sanders.

Asked if he had ever threatened or coerced a worker to discourage them from unionizing, Schultz answered carefully. “I’ve had conversations that could’ve been interpreted in a different way than I intended,” he said.

At one point, Schultz said he was offended by remarks from Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who said Starbucks had spent large sums of money on the anti-union law firm Littler Mendelson in order to bust the union.

“I take offense with you categorizing me or Starbucks as a union buster when that is not true,” Schultz said, prompting laughter from some union supporters in the crowd.

Schultz has been personally implicated in unfair labor practice charges. The National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel accused him of promising to improve pay or benefits if they chose not to unionize.

Howard Schultz stepped down as Starbucks CEO the week before his appearance at a Senate hearing on the company's labor and union practices.

The NLRB general counsel has filed dozens of complaints against Starbucks alleging the company violated labor law over the past year and a half. According to the complaints, Starbucks illegally fired workers, closed stores, withheld raises and benefits, and made promises to workers to throttle the organizing.