It could be a hearing for the history books: Billionaire Howard Schultz, the resolutely anti-union architect of Starbucks, meets Sen. Bernie Sanders, the outspoken champion of the union movement in Congress.
Schultz was once a prominent Democrat hailed as a progressive corporate pioneer of better pay and benefits for service industry workers. On Wednesday, under threat of subpoena, he appeared in the Senate to face allegations that Starbucks has been breaking labor laws as it fights its employees' nationwide unionization push.
"Over the past 18 months Starbucks has waged the most aggressive and illegal union-busting campaign in the modern history of our country," Sanders said in his opening statement. "The fundamental issue we are facing today is whether we have a system of justice that applies to all — or whether billionaires and large corporations can break the law with impunity."
Schultz, fresh off his third stint as Starbucks CEO, repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
"Sir, Starbucks coffee company, unequivocally — and let me set the tone for this very early on — has not broken the law," he said. The statement was met by some laughter from the gallery.
He categorically denied being a union-buster and said he took offense at being characterized as one. That also elicited laughter from the audience.
"We want to treat everyone with respect and dignity," Schultz continued. "However, I have the right, and the company has the right, to have a preference. And our preference is to...
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