Laxman Narasimhan has taken over as Starbucks' new CEO, and has already begun to make his mark on the company. He has spent the past six months immersing himself in the company culture, including earning a barista certification and working in stores every month. Narasimhan is committed to focusing on the customer experience, and ensuring that Starbucks follows all labor laws.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has agreed to testify before a Senate committee investigating allegations of union-busting leveled against the coffee chain. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been a vocal advocate for workers' rights and has recently released a book on Social Security and the future of jobs. The Senate panel was set to vote Wednesday to subpoena Schultz if he did not willingly agree to testify, but with Schultz now agreeing to appear, the vote is no longer necessary.
A federal labor judge has ordered Starbucks to reinstate seven fired workers, reopen a shuttered location, and stop infringing on workers' rights after finding that the company violated labor laws "hundreds of times". The ruling requires Starbucks to post a notice in all U.S. stores listing its labor violations and workers' rights, with the company's interim CEO Howard Schultz required to be present. The decision is a major victory for labor groups, who have long accused Starbucks of violating labor laws and attempting to prevent unionization, and is expected to have a major impact on the labor movement.
Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man from Memphis, Tennessee, will be laid to rest on Wednesday, three weeks after he died following a brutal beating by Memphis police. His family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, is hoping for justice as five officers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death. The family is asking for prayers and support as they remember Tyre's life as a symbol of hope and justice.
