Actor and activist James Cromwell glued his hand to a midtown Manhattan Starbucks counter on Tuesday to protest the coffee chain's extra charge for plant-based milk.
Starbucks workers have driven a surge in union election petitions filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Unionizing has also picked up at colleges, non-profits and pot dispensaries.
Once seen as among the most generous of employers, Starbucks is now grappling with disillusionment among its workers. Since December, 20 stores have unionized with more filing for elections every day.
Howard Schultz rejoins Starbucks as interim CEO as the company faces multiple challenges, including an unprecedented wave of unionization at stores across the country.
On the day of its annual shareholder meeting, Starbucks announced its CEO Kevin Johnson is retiring, effective April 4. Howard Schultz, who led the company for two decades, will return as interim CEO.
As part of the company's goal to reduce waste by 50% by 2030, customers will be able to bring a reusable cup to get their drinks by the end of next year.
The number of unionized Starbucks stores is now six after three stores in the Buffalo area voted to unionize. The vote counts at each store were close.
Starbucks workers at 15 additional stores are petitioning for a a union election, pushing to organize cafes across the country. In Buffalo, the first store to unionize is negotiating a contract.
The coffee giant said it was responding to last week's Supreme Court ruling that rejected the Biden administration's plan to require vaccines or COVID testing at companies with more than 100 workers.
Employees of a Starbucks store in upstate New York who voted to unionize last month walked off the job, saying they lacked the staff and resources to work safely amid surging COVID-19 cases.
Voting is ending at three stores around Buffalo, N.Y. Starbucks had flown in executives to the area and asked federal officials to delay the ballot count.
