Starbucks's C.E.O. Howard Schultz on unions, China, mental health and bathrooms

[@FilmKiln]

We’ve spent 200 years hearing what CEOs think of unions. How about we ignore their deceitful decadence?

[@Innerbrave]

Yeah the rendering / audio in this video is very bad. Can NYT please reupload?

[@FirstnameLastname-gy2ci]

They can't. Some sound guy is getting fired.

[@MawcDrums]

I've worked for Starbucks for 6 years and have qualified for food stamps and Medicaid the entire time.

[@sjohnson5813]

I don't think Starbucks is the type of job where you should expect to be set for life.. No offense at all. Its a very low skill job. It's more like a teen or college job for some extra money.

[@MawcDrums]

@@sjohnson5813 so how about for the people who are unable to perform a job more complex than a cashier or a fast food worker due to education, disability, etc? Be careful saying these aren't "real jobs" because the jobs in referring to often are the most successful companies in the world. Nobody who is working full time should qualify for food stamps or state health insurance because of how little they earn. Are you okay paying for my groceries instead of Starbucks?

[@sjohnson5813]

@MawcDrums no, they are definitely real jobs. You are putting words in my mouth. They are no skill jobs. No education or trade needs to be learned. Working at Starbucks or fast food should be a temporary job. Unless you are striving for upper managment. It's crazy to expect Starbucks to pay people a salary like that. It's coffee making , that's it.

[@MawcDrums]

@@sjohnson5813 a salary like what? Being able to afford groceries, transportation to and from work, and a basic roof over their head? How is that seen as extravagant, especially when the people are giving 40 hours of their skilled labor to a company. Come try to man the bar during peak at Starbucks and tell me it's an "unskilled" job that requires no training.

[@sjohnson5813]

@MawcDrums stress and skill are very different bud.

[@mydogsbutler]

Schultz represents everything that is wrong with many CEOs today. He says one thing, but then does another. His net worth is 4 billion while meanwhile a fair chunk of his employees lack affordable health care. Executive pay should be linked to employee pay. He does the same thing with foreign policy. He claims to stand for moral principle when it comes to Russian aggression in Ukraine, but then takes a blind eye to Israeli expansion in Palestine in violation of International law.

[@deborahhughes6923]

Sucks!!! Starbuck sucks! They should just stick to the coffee business.

[@VorpalVixen]

I’m a shift supervisor for Starbucks, and I can’t afford the health insurance they offer. The cheapest option for my husband and myself is around $130 per PAYCHECK, so $260 per month, and that isn’t even considering deductible or other issues. Our country needs to take care of their people, but if they aren’t going to, then we need these companies we work for to do it, or to push for universal health care because they (unfortunately) have a much bigger voice and say in what happens to us.

[@itsjammbi]

ur at an entry level job, work harder 👍🏻

[@huinsaegkoyangi]

@@itsjammbi Bet you haven't worked a 8+ shift, constantly on your feet, and trying to make 2 frappuccinos, 2 lattes, and iced teas in 3 minutes *while* having a whole line of strangers staring you down during your work out of their suspicion of "making their drink right". I was constantly timed when I worked at a starbucks drive-thru, as the timer literally expected me to make 4 frappuccinos (on average), heat up 3 sandwiches, while also taking the next car's order in under one single minute by myself-- while my horrible store leader actively broke FDA food safety guidelines on a daily. The most hardworking people I met in my life all came from retail or "entry level". Not to also mention that boomers are increasingly discovered to actually *lie* during their interview and succeed in a "better", comfortable position but cannot even execute a simple task as opening an e-mail, as they ask younger coworkers to do this for them. Anyone who has not worked entry level jobs are the first ones to say "You're entry level, do better" "You work retail, you're paid your worth. Deal with it." Everyone, regardless of field, deserves respect for their human autonomy-- especially in the workplace. Sincerely, a former Starbucks employee.

[@itsjammbi]

@@huinsaegkoyangi I can’t read essays it’s too much but having a tougher career= more money. supply and demand, nobody will pay a living wage at Starbucks sorry

[@devinosland359]

@@itsjammbi oh so people who work at starbuck dont deserve to live ok

[@than0s948]

@@itsjammbi Words of a man that had never worked a day in his life.

[@MawcDrums]

I've seen over 20 people fall at work with countless requests for grip on the floor or new tiles during my time at Starbucks. I also had my hours cut so badly that my checks were below $200 weekly from February until late May of this year. As soon as we petitioned to unionize I've got my hours back.

[@bkucenski]

674,500,000 profit divided by 300,000 employees is 2,248 profit per employee per quarter. $9,000 per year. Starbucks can pay their employees better. The South didn't industrialize until after the Civil War. Industrialization always followers workers rights and results in higher wages, higher profits, and improvements to the quality of life for the general population. And yet capitalists, without fail, fight innovation and try to reduce wages by multiplying people rather than multiply the labor of people. If Starbucks could figure out how to create innovative solutions to multiply the efficiency of a Barista to pay them $30 an hour, they would dominate the coffee industry. Unions are taking hold because Starbucks refuses to lead and wants to pretend that low wages are "good enough." Capitalists are forever brain locked and can't see beyond what they are currently doing. Mobile and drive thru ordering means huge opportunities for gains to efficiency that would allow much higher wages. Workers currently are all over the place making drinks. It should be an assembly line, fast serve set up. Starbucks should also be rewarding employees with hundreds of dollars worth of shares every month so they are personally vested in the company.

[@joonjonjew]

That’s a stretch, a barista for $30/hour. Learn a trade bum. Talking to people is like level 1 in skillsets

[@bkucenski]

@@joonjonjew capitalists have no imagination

[@jewelscoop3570]

@@joonjonjew people with level one in skillsets not given any opportunities living in shithole homes their whole lives? Maybe if we gave them more money for better opportunities to work for then they could build up a trade off work time if they were actually paid a decent amount and didnt have to work TWO jobs to survive. Maybe if we had affordable housing and good payment people would have time to invest in trades… dont say “they are level one in skill” when a lot of people dont have access to learn a trade, or feasible jobs near them. If workers were paid more for their souls being sucked out, maybe theyd be ok with an hour commute with these gas prices

[@KeithSlime]

​@@joonjonjew is executive pay a stretch or have they earned that?

[@sjohnson5813]

A VERY delusional take on the world. One of those living in an alternate universe type I guess.

[@jdesert5036]

"I’ll get on my knees. I’ll do push-ups. Whatever you want. Come back." Yeah, that will do it Howard. People care about work-life balance, commute times, gas prices, and what that does to meaningful time with family. I hope the days of the fawning pedastalizing of CEOs comes to an end.

[@briannerk3373]

It wont, they spend billions of dollars on PR and propaganda; The outcome being for example modern "libertarian economic theory" which is just sophist apologetics for the plutocracy. For some it's easier to identify with the billionaires as a psychological defense mechanism about their own disempowered lives.

[@andratoma9834]

As a Union member, I am saddened to see that Starbucks CEO is against Unions

[@ghahate18]

As a union member you understand why he is

[@Lisa-hj8fh]

​@@ghahate18 no we don't. If you don't want unions, get rid of the right work, pay a decent wage( with benefits that are affordable). Yes we can invest in our American workers while making millions each year. But at last, people these days are too stupid to think for themselves. Yes, unions make money too. But, that's a completely different ball game than say the corporate ceo overlords.

[@shaynes5788]

Well you kind of have to look at it from his point of view. How would you feel if you bought a company, turned down by 217 investors, given a chance by a few, rebuilt it in 2008 and revolutionized the way coffee shops are looked at, created amazing benefits for its partners (medical, dental, vision, free bachelors degree, free spotify, free coffee, free food, free whole bean coffee, access to mental health care for free, family expansion reimbursement, paid time off, gifted yearly of stocks, newly added financial management, etc), and then have the people who work for you say that you’re not giving enough. How would you feel?

[@theabe3818]

Gen Z is braver than their parents ever were. They’re fighting back against predatory employers.

[@aGj2fiebP3ekso7wQpnd1Lhd]

Howard is brilliant, but doesn't get it. "We have to demonstrate that they can trust us" spoken from a man wearing a designer suit and arrived on a private jet. Inequality is the issue Howard. No amount of insignificant benefits or shares for part-time workers will change that.

[@jpharrahill7655]

"Brilliance" always needs to be defined when used. No one is altogether brilliant, they may be very knowledgeable about certain subjects, but not overall.

[@thehartleys1489]

I worked in the store and worked my way up into the corporate office. In reality, there is very little upward mobility opportunities for store partners..the erratic works schedules, low pay ranges, sporadic amount of weekly hours, overbearing leaders makes it very difficult to feel respected at Starbucks. The shear inability to find a leader within its own ranks tells the whole story of Starbucks...all lip service and no real action.

[@zukacs]

audio is messed up

[@vanontom]

Cut through the nonsense and doublespeak: Go to 08:10 for Schultz's and Starbucks' honest position on employees. Spoilers: Organized labor will never be tolerated under his "leadership". I think our current generation of executives treat this as a game, like they're afraid their yacht buddies might unfriend them if they allow unions. Their egos and feelings are more important than the well-being of the human beings they employ (hundreds of thousands in this case). Vote with your wallet, spread the word, and support local businesses (with higher quality products). Hope a few former employees (whose stores are closed due to unions) will start their own local competitors, and render most of these sociopath executives, and these brutal international corporations, completely irrelevant. Starve the beasts.

[@briannerk3373]

I stopped going to Starbucks because of this

[@KevinRyan93]

Is this video audio messed up or is it just me?

[@Dunit1117]

Audio's definitely choppy

[@JoanDoris1]

Not enough volume to suit me.

[@loveklumpy]

Eliminate restroom access for safety? I work in Transportation and normally I am able to use the restroom at Starbucks. Many times, I need to use the restroom before making a purchase, so this could become a challenge due to limited time. In the past and during this pandemic, in businesses that had limited access I have witnessed people with needs deficate or have more accidents in-stores leading to bigger risk and health issues for workers and the public. In Comparison to a business that had open access, had less work stress and more productivity focusing on sells and the customer. Which if limited I predict leading issues for Starbucks more in "Mental health" -Stress and new means of problem solving. As a leading issue, Is it safe to point out that one could argue that we lack leadership skills in management within the business and it will not improve if we keep feeding to easy means just to get people to come back-to-work? With this being said, workers should get better benefits and wages for the skills and experience that they provide; however, the biggest issue that many business are facing is the lack of experience and work skills, hints no leadership. So let's focus more on teaching a new generation about work ethics and skills to use in a work environment instead if limiting restroom access. Promote workers or fund education programs for those workers whom have worked 6-10 plus years.

[@TheOtherVenkman]

Yeah, because people like you are the ones causing problems. Get a grip. The amount of homeless drug users causing problems is why this policy is changing, not because of people like you who go to the restroom then get in line.

[@kellielaine5848]

BOYCOTT STARBUCKS UNTIL ALL WORKER DEMANDS ARE MET.

[@joonjonjew]

Nah

[@Xenon-4300]

He says "We are in business to exceed the expections of our customers" then when asked about whether the unions have a place within the company he says "We have built a company that is centered around exceeding the expectations of our people and our customers" - our people meaning partners/employees. So which is it? Because it didn't sound like they were part of the company model the first time around.

[@ghahate18]

All of his grand ideas just seem like a waste of money. Notice how when he's talking about making the employees experience better, he never mentioned more money? Coal miners wanted more money and respect so they formed a union. Starbucks want more money and respect so they form a union.

[@masondrip42]

don’t compare baristas to coal minors

[@mtb416]

@@masondrip42 No kidding, right? These blue haired quacks seemingly feel they should be able to buy a house on barista wages. These jobs aren’t meant for that.

[@RisingStudentApathy]

@@masondrip42 A coal MINER* sweats to make a resource available. A barista sweats to produce a service and a product. They are both workers, deserving of decent workplace conditions and their fair share of the pay

[@masondrip42]

it’s really hard to take you seriously. im sure you mean well though

[@LawtonDigital]

There's something wrong with the audio

[@notjohn439]

Eat the rich. Literally.

[@dominicrincker8280]

I love how the office workers are just silly young people who work differently and can be bargained with but store workers are unreasonable and are absolutely not allowed to organize their value

[@masondrip42]

become more valuable

[@RisingStudentApathy]

@@masondrip42 How about they become more valuable by all striking at once? How about if we just don't have anymore retail stores or food services? You're okay with that right? No more McDonalds, GAP, whatever you can think of. That IS what you want right? Oh right you just don't want the people working these jobs to be paid their fair share

[@masondrip42]

create a business and then pay your people the fair share they deserve.

[@andrewjohn2124]

Around 8:00 his rant...My question is will you give your workers decent wages or continue your slave wage mentality?

[@LifePlayDream]

7 Eleven Coffee and Starbucks Coffee taste EXACTLY the same! Not only that, @ 7 Eleven you can add however much espressos to your drinks for a FRACTION of the price!

[@willybones3890]

Lol...you're funny.

[@LifePlayDream]

@@willybones3890 ;)

[@joeshumo9457]

You must have shoe leather for a tongue.

[@gigis.6813]

Too much ice on the coffee. Paying for a few sips of coffee with a ton of ice. Overcharge me but atleast pay your employees a decent living wage.

[@lmfao4573]

Just ask for light ice? It’s not that hard. the lines on the cups are measurement standards they are trained to follow. your drink is 100% customizable to your liking. If you want less ice just ask for it.

[@gigis.6813]

@@lmfao4573 I didn't blame the employees, I know they were just doing what they were trained to do. I do ask for light ice and usually I have to tell them they don't have to add extra coffee or milk to it. The last time I asked for light ice the barista added extra milk in my latte because she said she has to fill up the cup. Therefore diluting the espresso. I just don't like when all the melted ice dilute my drink.

[@gabrielcoronado6395]

I wonder why they didn't give Schultz a Starbucks coffee, instead of water...

[@deadmanprodinc]

Schultz says "We have established a business that is centered around exceeding the expectation of our customers". "We don't want a 3rd party (unions) leading our employees". This is nothing but CEO lip service. The real aim of a Starbucks CEO is to squeeze as much profit from their product/services for their shareholder group as humanly possible. All of this at the expense of their employees and they don't want union idealism's to infiltrate their operation. Ideals such as reasonable and fair terms and conditions of employment. Full time work", not part time work where paying benefits can be circumvented. A fair livable wage, safe workplace infastructure and workplace practices, health benefits and a pension plan. Starbucks shareholders and CEO Schultz refuse to part with any of their billions in profits to provide reasonable and fair conditions for the very employees who are the face of Starbucks. Profit over fairness and greed is the Starbucks way. They are not the only ones, Walmart, Amazon, the list goes on where profit is all and exploiting employees is the vehicle to maintaining their fiefdoms.

[@miketimmons4504]

“And Howard, how did the Sonics do this season”. The worst thing to happen to Seattle sports ever.

[@cdavidlake2]

I love it: the current woke corporate consensus summarized - Russia bad ("full stop"), China mostly good, inflatation bad enough to call out fellow Democrats on, and the mental health/homelessness crisis killing enough customers/employees to *definitely* call out. Unionization, of course, doesn't merit discussion at all.

[@vogelvogeltje]

Using the word “woke” outs you. Of course it isn’t this black and white.

[@MistyMeaner1]

Seattle HATES Howard. Between what he did to Sonics fans and what he has done to tens of thousands of workers in the PNW, I’ll just say that Howie should think twice when eating food that he didn’t grow and cook himself. I’m just saying, I’ve heard some stories. Even at the high end restaurants he loves so much 🤣🤣

[@JoanDoris1]

I have flat out lost respect for the company and Howard.

[@protennis365]

Now he has become a Republican. How time change

[@Huntington12345678]

Plot twist: They're the same party. The Corporate Party.

[@xavierjohn2211]

Howard Schultz Something Wonderful

[@depoplastikptc8467]

Easiest way to reduce partners daily life cost is provide them 1 free meals for each working shift or free 1 way transportation cost

[@lmfao4573]

they already get free food and drink on a shift…..

[@shaynes5788]

And most stores get $20 off lyft rides (20 rides per month)

[@masondrip42]

ill invest in two years

[@brendajenkins9490]

I lOVE Howard!

[@zkppy]

"it's a different world" people don't want to work.... hey let me break it to you it has always been that way , as soon as the economy deteriorates and people start losing jobs... I promise they will work from wherever you want.

[@honeybunchesofoats00]

I promise you they won't. There is little to no labor shortage, it's made up. There was when people all first got covid, and still are getting covid. Regardless of real illness, there is no shortage. People are no longer willing to overwork themselves for companies that are not willing to compensate them fairly. I work at Starbucks. They understaff us on purpose to make profits look larger. But I often work on behalf of 2-3 people who are not there. I am doing the work of multiple people and still getting underpaid if we were to fully staffed. We used to have 8-9 people on the floor. On a good day now, we have 6 MAYBE 7. On a bad/regular day, we have 3-4. There are so many people applying to my location and my boss calls none of them back. She keeps cutting back labor, saying we've gone over. Despite us having record sales over the past few years and getting our labor cut instead of increasing it. People are fed up with this, because it's not just Starbuck's. When money is the objective, companies have no problem exploiting the workers they never even have to meet in order to make millions more.

[@Risk11]

They don’t want to work they can fine but don’t blame companies when you can’t provide for your family

[@arigutman]

Enjoyed the watch, I am a shareholder in Starbucks and look forward to the comeback of the stock. While unionization may sound terrifying, what we can bet on is a return on investment with Starbucks being an iconic coffeehouse around the globe.. Bring it home Schultz, ready for a rally...

[@jdesert5036]

Numerous stores weekly voting to unionize combined with a likely recession can't be minimized. If you're talking about a rally in two years once Starbucks makes changes and the economy improves I'm with you, but I would not be buying anytime soon.

[@ooooneeee]

what are your even saying? are you for unionisation or against it? if you're for it, speak up at shareholder meetings. if you're against it, shame on you.

[@Calvbread]

19.08

[@maxx1000]

Can he name one community based program his stores are engaged in, anymore?

[@ClaarTube]

He literally talked about a community store here in the video.

[@vom3342]

The host is talking too much

[@ThienVo1984]

Hi , Dead ! : ]

[@norml.hugh-mann]

The ONLY reason I have ever went to Starbucks is to have coffee while j use my device via wifi...and a bathroom is essential. I will just give my Starbucks card to a homeless person if they do close them as gas statikn coffee....any gas station has better coffee.. I haven't seen a bathroom open in a Seattle Starbucks since early 2020 and therefore haven't spent a single dollar there as I ask that before I order

[@gabrielort3531]

Unfortunately the homeless are the number one reason for bathroom problems anywhere where they have bathrooms available. They literally "move in" into those bathrooms and they don't care how long everybody else has to wait for them to come out. They "bathe" in the bathrooms and some of the mentally disabled make "a mess" and then the bathroom has to be put out of service for everybody else. I lived in San Diego for years and know first hand what I'm talking about.. It's just makes it more difficult for everybody else to have any kind of "normalcy".

[@cdavidlake2]

@@gabrielort3531 And unfortunately, in the current woke climate, dealing with the actual problem is the *last* thing anyone can do.

[@johndonny4395]

why don't you let a homeless person use the bathroom at your home?

[@masondrip42]

same thing in colorado

[@B.L.47]

They ruin our bathrooms ALL day long. We have to constantly close our bathrooms and PAY for the hazard team to come clean it. They defecate on the floor and smear it on the walls pee everywhere and they leave their needles on the sink or in OUR trashes. It’s horrible. This must stop. They are a danger to our partners especially the closers who have been attacked physically on many occasions.

[@flowerpower8125]

😂

[@caxcan9438]

I will no longer buy Starbucks this man is twisted . Boycott Starbucks asap. Sick democrat hope he loses business.

[@AANDYG2010]

This guy is so naive on China

[@jdesert5036]

Not naïve. Just doing mental gymnastics like other big companies like Apple that know they can't make as much profit without China.

[@mustafaerol2831]

hovaryu howard turkey

[@davehanson199]

Want a pathetic CEO and human being