"Union Coalition Challenges Starbucks Over Anti-Union Spending Disclosure"
A coalition of unions, the Strategic Organizing Center, accuses Starbucks of implementing a "flawed human capital management strategy" in response to a union movement, risking shareholder value and isolating customers. The coalition plans to file an investor presentation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, pushing to replace three current Starbucks board members with its own nominees. Starbucks defends its board and strategy, stating its significant investments in employee experience and plans to reach ratified contracts for represented stores in 2024. The union coalition claims the company's response to the unionization campaign has cost nearly a quarter of a billion dollars and damaged the brand's value, while Starbucks argues its steady operating performance speaks for itself amidst external challenges.