Renowned coffee chain Starbucks found itself embroiled in controversy last week when the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce threatened a boycott over allegations that certain Starbucks union stores were openly supporting Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization.
In response to the chamber’s poignant statement that “Drinking a cup of Starbucks is Drinking a Cup of Jewish Blood,” Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, promptly reached out to Duvi Honig, a representative of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce. Schultz reinforced Starbucks’s unwavering stance against any stores or employees advocating for Hamas.
In a letter to Honig, Starbucks Coffee Company executive vice president and chief communications officer AJ Jones II wrote: “Thank you for taking the time to connect with me and the team at Starbucks. As we discussed over the phone, Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of terrorism, hate, and violence. We strongly disagree with the views expressed by Worker’s United.
Starbucks Workers United stands with Palestine. pic.twitter.com/A0Rg63b7sp
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) October 20, 2023
Today, we filed a complaint in federal court against Workers United and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for misusing our name, logo, and intellectual property. This misuse included a statement paired with an image of a bulldozer tearing down a part of the Israel and Gaza border, indicating their support for the violence orchestrated by Hamas. Such reckless behavior warrants scrutiny to safeguard our partners and clarify Starbucks’s official stance.”
Misinformation linked to Workers United
The letter highlighted the company’s concerns regarding misinformation linked to Workers United. “The misinformation and inflammatory headlines stemming from images and statements by Workers United last week deeply troubled us,” Jones II wrote. “We strongly disagree with their views. This includes the views of its local affiliates, union organizers, and those identifying as ‘Starbucks Workers United’ members. None of these groups speak for Starbucks Coffee Company. They do not represent our company’s beliefs, views, or positions. Their words and actions are solely their own.”
Honig suggested closing the controversial stores, but Schultz said such an action would have legal implications.Starbucks sent a message to all its employees shortly after their conversation, denouncing terrorism and emphasizing that individual remarks do not mirror the company’s official stance.
This report was written in collaboration with the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.