Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Agrees to Testify Before Senate Committee Investigating Union-Busting Allegations

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has agreed to testify before a Senate committee investigating allegations of union-busting leveled against the coffee chain. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, announced the agreement on Tuesday.

The committee had sent a letter to Schultz on February 7th, inviting him to testify about the company’s compliance with federal labor laws. The letter noted that Starbucks had resisted its employees’ efforts to unionize.

On Tuesday, Starbucks confirmed that Schultz would appear before the committee, sharing a letter the company had sent to Capitol Hill. The letter stated that the company had reached an agreement with Sanders “after constructive discussions with Committee staff.”

The agreement comes as workers in America have the constitutional right to organize unions and engage in collective bargaining to improve their working conditions. Senator Sanders has been a vocal advocate for workers’ rights, and has recently released a book on Social Security and the future of jobs.

The Senate panel was set to vote Wednesday to subpoena Schultz if he did not willingly agree to testify. With Schultz now agreeing to appear, the vote is no longer necessary. It is unclear when the hearing will take place.