Starbucks Corporation, under the stock code SBUX, has announced the preliminary proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled to be held via webcast on March 13, 2024. The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and associated parties are soliciting proxies for the election of their slate of three independent nominees—Maria Echaveste, Joshua Gotbaum, and Wilma B. Liebman—to the Starbucks Board of Directors. This move comes in response to what the SOC and SEIU describe as 'flagrant human capital mismanagement' by Starbucks, particularly in relation to efforts to silence employee union organizing campaigns since late 2021. The SOC and SEIU, along with their nominees, aim to address these issues and protect long-term shareholder value by advocating...Show More

Starbucks Corporation, under the stock code SBUX, has announced the preliminary proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled to be held via webcast on March 13, 2024. The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and associated parties are soliciting proxies for the election of their slate of three independent nominees—Maria Echaveste, Joshua Gotbaum, and Wilma B. Liebman—to the Starbucks Board of Directors. This move comes in response to what the SOC and SEIU describe as 'flagrant human capital mismanagement' by Starbucks, particularly in relation to efforts to silence employee union organizing campaigns since late 2021. The SOC and SEIU, along with their nominees, aim to address these issues and protect long-term shareholder value by advocating for meaningful change in Starbucks' human capital management policies. The proxy statement and BLUE proxy card are being mailed to shareholders around the date of the announcement. The SOC and SEIU hold a minority of shares and are encouraging shareholders to vote 'FOR' their nominees and 'WITHHOLD' votes from certain incumbent directors whom they oppose, citing the need for improved oversight and management strategies.