Truth matters. In response to misinformation, we’re sharing the facts on what Starbucks believes and stands for. At Starbucks, truth and transparency are essential to fulfilling our mission, upholding our promises and living our values. So, when misinformation about our company spreads at lightning speed in an increasingly polarized world, we believe it’s critical to respond with facts and to reiterate our position on key issues. Due to ongoing false and misleading information being shared about Starbucks, we are consolidating some of the most frequently asked questions about the brand – and responding with facts.
Starbucks is a global company committed to providing a place where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging, anywhere in the world. We abhor hate and strongly reject violence against the innocent.
Despite false statements spread through social media, Starbucks has never contributed to any government or military operation in any way.
Related Links
The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Starbucks are committed to providing humanitarian aid in Gaza
https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2024/the-starbucks-foundatio…
Message from Laks: A community we call Starbucks
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/a-message-from-laks-a-communit…
Letter from Starbucks ceo: Affirming what we stand for
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/letter-from-starbucks-ceo-affi…
Starbucks condemns acts of terror and escalating violence, strongly disagrees with statements made by Workers United
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-condemns-acts-of-ter…
Message from Sara: Supporting our partners during the ongoing Israel-Gaza attacks
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/message-from-sara-supporting-p…
Yes. Starbucks has stores in more than 80 countries globally and has been in the Middle East for over 20 years. Local business partner Alshaya Group operates nearly 2,000 Starbucks stores across the Middle East and North Africa region. The 19,000 Alshaya baristas wearing the green apron throughout the region serve millions of customers each day and aim to provide a place where everyone feels welcome.
Despite false statements spread through social media, Starbucks has never contributed to any government or military operation in any way.
Related Links
The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Starbucks are committed to providing humanitarian aid in Gaza
https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2024/the-starbucks-foundatio…
Facts about Starbucks in the Middle East
https://www.starbucks.ae/en/starbucks-middle-east
No. Starbucks is a corporation – not a political organization. Despite false statements spread through social media, Starbucks has never contributed to any government or military operation in any way.
Related Links
Facts about Starbucks in the Middle East
https://www.starbucks.ae/en/starbucks-middle-east
Starbucks is a company with a Mission and Promises grounded in humanity and giving. False statements that have been made about who we are and what we stand for are being shared through social media, which has led to isolated acts of violence and vandalism in some stores around the world. We abhor hate and we strongly reject violence.
Related Links
Message from Laks: A community we call Starbucks
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/a-message-from-laks-a-communit…
Letter from Starbucks ceo: Affirming what we stand for
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/letter-from-starbucks-ceo-affi…
In early October, statements about the conflict in the Middle East were posted on social media using our company logo and name, which were then mistakenly attributed to Starbucks instead of Workers United and its affiliates/representatives.
The inaccurate attribution of these statements to Starbucks created confusion, leading to threats to our partners, damage to our stores, and calls for boycott.
Starbucks took legal action to end misuse of Starbucks name and logos and to protect the safety of our partners and retail operations.
To be clear, Starbucks respects others’ right to express their own viewpoints about the conflict in the Middle East and other political and social issues. Starbucks cannot permit the misuse of Starbucks name and logos, especially when those misuses lead to mistaken attribution of others statements to Starbucks.
Related Links
Read the full legal filing here (Starbucks Corporation v. Workers United)
https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/12/Starbucks-v.-Workers-Unit…
Our partners are the core of our business, and we are committed to providing every person who wears the green apron a bridge to a better future. Starbucks provides a best-in-class wage and benefits package in retail to all eligible employees. That includes an average pay of $18.50 an hour, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, access to shares of stock and savings benefits, and matched retirement contributions.
Starbucks and Workers United announced on Feb. 27, 2024, a commitment to a constructive and mutually respectful path forward in the interests of Starbucks partners. The agreement to begin discussions on a foundational framework is designed to achieve ratified collective bargaining agreements for represented partners, the resolution of litigation and a fair process for organizing. In the last year, the company reached a third collective bargaining agreement in Canada with the United Steelworkers, and negotiations are progressing for other represented stores in Canada.
Related Links
For the US: https://one.starbucks.com
For Canada: https://one.starbuckscanada.ca
Read the full legal filing here (Starbucks Corporation v. Workers United)
https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/12/Starbucks-v.-Workers-Unit…
Starbucks Reaffirms Its Commitment to the Principles of Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-reaffirms-its-commit…
Letter from Starbucks Independent Board Chair: Freedom of Association Assessment
https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/12/FY24-Letter-to-Shareholde…
Message from Sara: Our Outreach to Resume Contract Bargaining with Workers United
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/message-from-sara-our-outreach…