Starbucks Corporation, a Washington-based company, is facing a significant challenge from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), along with individual participants Mary Kay Henry, Ahmer Qadeer, Michael Zucker, and SOC Nominees Maria Echaveste, Joshua Gotbaum, and Wilma B. Liebman. The SOC, an advocacy group for shareholders and stakeholders, along with the SEIU, a labor union organization, have nominated three independent candidates for election to the Starbucks Board of Directors at the upcoming annual meeting scheduled to be held via webcast on March 13, 2024. This move comes after the SOC and SEIU have expressed concerns regarding what they perceive as Starbucks' mismanagement of human capital, particularly in relation to the company's response to employee...Show More

Starbucks Corporation, a Washington-based company, is facing a significant challenge from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), along with individual participants Mary Kay Henry, Ahmer Qadeer, Michael Zucker, and SOC Nominees Maria Echaveste, Joshua Gotbaum, and Wilma B. Liebman. The SOC, an advocacy group for shareholders and stakeholders, along with the SEIU, a labor union organization, have nominated three independent candidates for election to the Starbucks Board of Directors at the upcoming annual meeting scheduled to be held via webcast on March 13, 2024. This move comes after the SOC and SEIU have expressed concerns regarding what they perceive as Starbucks' mismanagement of human capital, particularly in relation to the company's response to employee unionization efforts and alleged violations of federal labor law. The SOC and SEIU, which represent over 2 million members, are advocating for a change in the company's board composition to include individuals with significant experience in labor law, human capital management, and public company board experience. The SOC currently holds a minor stake in Starbucks, owning 161.627478 shares of common stock. The group is soliciting proxies from shareholders to support their slate of nominees and oppose certain incumbent directors, whom they believe have failed to manage the company's labor relations effectively. The SOC and SEIU are urging shareholders to vote 'FOR' their nominees and 'WITHHOLD' votes from the opposed company nominees. They have not provided recommendations for the unopposed company nominees or other proposals on the proxy statement.