Updated 10/18/2023 at 1:25 p.m. PST

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On October 18, Starbucks filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport, Iowa.

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Today, Starbucks filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport, Iowa.

As the violence against the innocent in the region continues, some people are mistakenly tying these remarks to us, because Workers United and its affiliates and members continue to use our name, logo and intellectual property. &nbsp;

The actions taken by the union have nothing to do with its representation of the minority of partners who voted for them to bargain on their behalf. In fact, their continued statements have led to Starbucks partners, including some they represent, being threatened and subjected to graphic messages.

Such reckless and reprehensible behavior must be addressed through the lens of our partners' safety and public clarity of Starbucks official position, which condemns the violence in the region. This position is apart from our continued commitment to good faith bargaining that we have insisted through hundreds of requests and unfair labor practice filings.

Workers United President Lynne Fox rejected our request to take steps to ensure clarity and protect our partners. So, today’s action is a necessary step in defense of our partners and our company.

This action will not impede our unequivocal commitment to bargain in good faith.

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Updated 10/17/2023 at 12:30 p.m. PST

Partner Message from Sara Kelly: Affirming Starbucks Position and Addressing Statements from Workers United&nbsp;

I hope each of you are finding ways to take care of yourselves and your loved ones in this heavy time. In addition to the heartache we are all feeling during this moment, Iike many of you, I am also deeply troubled by the spread of misinformation and inflammatory headlines stemming from images used and statements made last week by Workers United.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shortly after October 7, Workers United posted a statement with an image of a bulldozer tearing down a part of the Israel and Gaza border, reflecting their support for violence perpetrated by Hamas. Unfortunately, as violence against the innocent in the region continues to escalate, some people are mistakenly tying these remarks to us, because Workers United and its affiliates and members continue to use our name, logo and intellectual property. Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and we strongly disagree with the views expressed by Workers United, including its local affiliates, union organizers and those who identify as members of “Starbucks Workers United” – none of these groups speak for Starbucks Coffee Company and do not represent our company’s views, positions, or beliefs. Their words and actions belong to them, and them alone.&nbsp;

The ongoing confusion from this misinformation has sadly led directly to incidents where angry, hurt customers are confronting partners in our stores and sending graphic and violent messages to partners in our Customer Contact Center (CCC). Our retail leaders and support teams are prioritizing partner care and safety, working to ensure every store and the CCC feels supported in de-escalating these situations.&nbsp;

It is in the best interest and safety of our partners and customers for Workers United to disengage from the dialogue and from misrepresenting Starbucks. Workers United's actions risk putting partners from all stores, including both non-union and unionized stores, in harm’s way. On Friday, we contacted Workers United demanding they 1) immediately stop using our company name, logo and intellectual property, and 2) issue an immediate correction. This morning, unfortunately, they rejected that request. As a result, Starbucks will file litigation against the union in federal court, and we intend to pursue all legal options in defense of our partners and our company.&nbsp;

We will be in touch as we have more updates. Thank you for continuing to support one another, and for the work you do each day to create environments where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging. Our actions have always been — and will always be — driven through the lens of humanity with our partners at the core.&nbsp;

Your partner,&nbsp; Sara&nbsp;&nbsp;

Originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://one.starbucks.com/get-the-facts/workers-united-does-not-speak-for-starbucks/">one.starbucks.com</a>&nbsp;on October 11, 2023

Starbucks wants to again express our deepest sympathy for those who have been killed, wounded, displaced and impacted following the heinous and unacceptable acts of terror, escalating violence and hate against the innocent in Israel and Gaza this week. Furthermore, we are deeply troubled by the spread of misinformation,&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2023/10/12/starbucks-workers-union-voices-solidarity-with-palestine/">inaccurate headlines</a>&nbsp;and third-party social media posts stemming from statements made by Workers United.

To be clear: We unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members. Workers United’s words and actions belong to them, and them alone.

Workers United, its local affiliates, union organizers and those who identify as members of “Starbucks Workers United” do not speak for Starbucks Coffee Company and do not represent the company’s views, positions or beliefs.&nbsp;

There is no legal entity known as “Starbucks Workers United.” Rather, it is a subset of partners that are represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with more than two million members working across a range of industries in the U.S. and Canada.&nbsp;

Starbucks partners throughout the globe are rooted&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;mission to nurture the&nbsp;limitless possibilities of human connection.&nbsp;We have been on a journey to create environments where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging. Our actions have always been —&nbsp;and will always be&nbsp;— driven through the lens of humanity.&nbsp;

We encourage you to reach out directly to Workers United International President Lynne Fox and SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry to share your concerns.

As Laxman Narasimhan, Starbucks ceo, shared with partners earlier this week:

“In times like these, it is essential that we remember what makes us Starbucks partners, and that we lean on our shared value of belonging.&nbsp;Let us remember that our strength lies in our ability to support one another with empathy and understanding, irrespective of our backgrounds and experiences. Together, we can continue to cultivate a safe and welcoming workplace where everyone feels heard, valued and included.” — Laxman Narasimhan, ceo

Unequivocal condemnation for acts of terror shared directly with partners and customers:

“As a leadership team, we want to again express our deepest sympathy for those who have been killed, wounded, displaced and impacted following the heinous acts of terror, escalating violence and hate against the innocent in Israel and Gaza this week. Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of hate, terrorism and violence.” — Sara Kelly, evp and chief partner officer

Workers United, its local affiliates, union organizers and those who identify as members of “Starbucks Workers United” do not speak for Starbucks Coffee Company and do not represent the company’s views, positions or beliefs. 

Starbucks condemns acts of terror and escalating violence, strongly disagrees with statements made by Workers United

Stories to inspire and nurture the human spirit

Starbucks Stories

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Today, Sara Kelly, Starbucks evp and chief partner officer, shared the following note with all global Starbucks partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 As a leadership team, we want to again express our deepest sympathy for those who have been killed, wounded, displaced and impacted following the heinous acts of terror, escalating violence and hate against the innocent in Israel and Gaza this week.&nbsp;Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of hate, terrorism and violence. 

As Laxman Narasimhan, Starbucks ceo, shared with partners earlier this week: &nbsp;

“In times like these, it is essential that we remember what makes us Starbucks partners, and that we lean on our shared value of belonging. Let us remember that our strength lies in our ability to support one another with empathy and understanding, irrespective of our backgrounds and experiences. Together, we can continue to cultivate a safe and welcoming workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and included.”&nbsp;

We know partners may need additional support or have questions. Here are a few things to know: &nbsp;

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 Please keep one another in your thoughts. &nbsp;

Your partner,&nbsp;&nbsp; Sara&nbsp;

Today, Sara Kelly, Starbucks evp and chief partner officer, shared the following note with all global Starbucks partners.

Message from Sara: Supporting partners during the ongoing Israel-Gaza attacks 

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Today we proudly opened our China Coffee Innovation Park (CIP), located in the city of Kunshan, about an hour from Shanghai. The opening of this remarkable facility - a first for us globally - reinforces our long-term commitment to investing in our growth in China as well as our strategy to become a truly global company.

As I reflect on the day with our China partners and leadership team, I want to share with you a few highlights to help give you a real sense of the experience we’re building here:&nbsp;

Today, we have over 6,500 stores across China and counting, and yet the average person in China drinks around 12 cups of coffee a year, compared to about 200 in Japan or 380 in the US – presenting clear runway for a growing coffee drinking culture in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

The China coffee culture is clearly in the early chapters of its story. This is why each element of our CIP is designed to showcase our coffee heritage, unlock efficiencies, reduce waste, and strengthen and scale our technology to further elevate our customer and partner experience and differentiate us in the market. Our investment in the CIP will support our growth, as we expand from over 6,500 stores in the China market today, to 9,000 by 2025.&nbsp; This will be complemented by 4,000 “We Proudly Serve” Starbucks Coffee Foodservice sites.

Today is a reminder of our new mission at Starbucks and who we are when we are at our best. It is our partner promise to help bridge to a better future; for our customers, we promise to uplift the everyday; for our farmers, we promise to ensure the future of coffee for all; for our community, we promise to contribute positively; for our environment, we promise to give more than we take; in doing all these things, for our shareholders we generate long-term returns. Our China Coffee Innovation Park is an excellent example of the intersection of Starbucks partners living these promises, and our limitless possibilities, globally.&nbsp;

Thank you to every partner involved in the creation of our new CIP – from ideation and inception to the behind-the-scenes technology development, facility construction, and day-to-day operations of the facility.&nbsp;We are eager for CIP to inspire new partners and customers to engage with our brand as we work towards a greener future together.&nbsp;

Laxman’s Letter to Partners: Our China Coffee Innovation Park exemplifies what we can achieve globally - Starbucks Stories

Laxman’s Letter to Partners: Our China Coffee Innovation Park exemplifies what we can achieve globally

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https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/laxmans-china-coffee-innovation-park/

Some of you may have heard on Wednesday about the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas decision on the legality of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. While current DACA recipients can maintain their status at this time, we know that yesterday’s news only intensified uncertainty for nearly 600,000 DACA recipients in our nation. And we know that this group includes our own partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At Starbucks we strive to create a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome. That’s why we have <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/letter-to-starbucks-partners-our-support-and-advocacy-for-dreamers/">long advocated</a> for Congress to reach a bi-partisan solution and legal path to citizenship for all DACA recipients and Dreamers. And in the interim we will continue to offer benefits and support for our partners who are DACA recipients. This includes reimbursement for the biennial fee required to stay in the DACA program and providing access to a free and confidential Immigration Advisor Program.&nbsp;

Please know this: we will continue to stand with the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and Dreamers impacted by the ruling, including those we are proud to call Starbucks partners. They are contributing to their community and to the economy – this is their home.&nbsp;

AJ Jones II, executive vice president and chief communications officer, Public Affairs

At Starbucks we strive to create a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.

Message to U.S. Partners: Supporting Dreamers Today and Always

Message to Starbucks Partners: Supporting Dreamers Today and Always

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/message-to-starbucks-partners-supporting-dreamers-today-and-always/

In response to the devastating earthquake in Morocco on September 8, The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Group have committed to a joint combined donation of $250,000 to support impacted communities and relief efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks opened its first store in Morocco with Alshaya Group as its local licensee in 2011, and now has 18 stores and over 150 green apron partners (employees) across the country, with three stores in Marrakesh. Starbucks and Alshaya Group are now working together via operations teams to provide care, support and assistance to partners and their families, as well as the communities they serve.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Group’s donations will support organizations providing immediate relief and aid to communities, including:&nbsp;

“We are heartbroken by the widespread tragedy that has occurred in Morocco, and our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones,” said Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “It will be a long recovery, and we are dedicated to supporting our green apron partners and the communities we serve in Morocco, both through monetary contributions and hands-on assistance.”&nbsp;

“Our team in Morocco has already shown tremendous resilience and compassion in the face of this crisis,” said Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman, Alshaya Group. “Through these donations and support, we hope we can relieve the devastating impact on communities.”&nbsp;

Customers wanting to contribute to World Central Kitchen’s efforts in Morocco can make a donation directly to WCK using the link below. &nbsp;

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Starbucks partners who make a personal donation may be eligible for a <a href="https://www.starbucksbenefits.com/en-us/home/company-perks/partner-matching-gifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giving Match</a> from Starbucks.&nbsp;

About The Starbucks Foundation

The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by&nbsp;disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law.&nbsp;

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 36,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/">stories.starbucks.com </a>or <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.starbucks.com</a>.&nbsp;

Alshaya Group has partnered with Starbucks since 1999, and now operates more than 1,900 stores across 13 markets spanning from Northern Africa through the Middle East and Central Asia.&nbsp;

How Starbucks is helping Morocco earthquake relief efforts  - Starbucks Stories

How Starbucks is helping Morocco earthquake relief efforts 

Starbucks, in partnership with its local licensee Alshaya Group, has been serving communities in Morocco for over 10 years. In response to the devastating earthquake that hit Morocco on Sept. 8, The Starbucks Foundation and Alshaya Group will make an initial joint donation of $200,000 to support communities and relief efforts.

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At Starbucks, we remain committed to responsibly sourcing coffee, tea and cocoa. We take this commitment seriously because we know that our future is directly linked to the livelihoods of farmers, suppliers, their families, local communities and our planet. Our approach to sourcing cocoa responsibly is built on a foundation of traceability, responsible purchasing practices and a commitment to supporting sustainable livelihoods for cocoa producers and their families, including reducing – and collectively working towards eliminating – the risks of child labor and cocoa-driven deforestation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks is a signatory member of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-membership-of-the-cocoa-forests-initiative-and-the-collective-commitment-to-end-cocoa-related-deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa &amp; Forest Initiative’s (CFI) framework</a> to help end deforestation in Ivory Coast and a member of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) to evolve and strengthen our approach to responsibly-sourced cocoa. By engaging in these sector initiatives, we are committed to working with stakeholders to advance effective solutions and strengthen our contribution to the cocoa sector.&nbsp;

Human Rights and Deforestation&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

We continue to source <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/business/the-rainforest-alliance-certification-program-a-useful-tool-for-due-diligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainforest Alliance certified</a> cocoa and pay premiums that are distributed through the value chain, including to cocoa farmers who achieve Rainforest Alliance certification. The standard set forth by Rainforest Alliance supports our due diligence efforts, in line with our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/global-human-rights-statement/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global human rights statement</a>, which reflects the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights. And because certification is just one part of a holistic approach to building deforestation-free supply chains, we are also a signatory member of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-membership-of-the-cocoa-forests-initiative-and-the-collective-commitment-to-end-cocoa-related-deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocoa &amp; Forest Initiative</a> (CFI) that aims to:&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition, Starbucks is building a more robust approach to human rights and deforestation – beginning with the review of our current human rights and deforestation policies over the next year, as well as deployment of a human and environmental rights saliency assessment.&nbsp;

Supporting Farmers and Their Families&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks is committed to pursuing sustainable livelihoods for cocoa producers and their families. We pay a sustainability premium per metric ton of cocoa sourced to implement activities with cocoa producers, cooperatives and communities. Starbucks actively engages with its cocoa suppliers to collectively address the root causes of poverty through a smart mix of agronomic, environmental, social and capacity building interventions. As a member of the ISCO Working Group on Child Labor we are working with likeminded companies to eliminate all forms of child labor in line with UN targets. &nbsp;

Traceability&nbsp;&nbsp;

We aspire to advance traceability in our supply chain and report progress in our 2024 Global Environmental Social Impact Report and our 2024 Cocoa &amp; Forests Initiative (CFI) progress report. Through our Cocoa &amp; Forests Initiative <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2023/08/CFI-Ending-Cocoa-Deforestation-Aug-2023-Update.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">action plan</a> we are committed to increasing our traceability through farm mapping within our direct supply chain and implementing traceability tools to increase transparency from first point of purchase by 2025.&nbsp;

Starbucks also participated in the 2023 Chocolate Scorecard, which aims to hold organizations accountable and provide more transparency around how brands are measured against key challenges facing the cocoa industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throughout Starbucks history, we have sought to be a different kind of company.&nbsp; We are driven by purpose, to create positive impact and we strive to lead by example. We know that addressing global systemic issues cannot be done alone and we will continue to partner closely with Rainforest Alliance, CFI and others to advance our collective goals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Every year, we set ambitious goals across a range of Environmental, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) initiatives. We do this to meet the moment, and to exceed the expectations of our partners, customers, suppliers and the communities we work in every day.&nbsp; By doing this well, we support the responsible growth of our business. Learn more in our <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2023/2022-starbucks-global-environmental-and-social-impact-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Global Environmental and Social Impact (GESI) Report</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At Starbucks, we remain committed to responsibly sourcing coffee, tea and cocoa.

Our Commitment to Responsible Sourcing for Cocoa

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/our-commitment-to-responsible-sourcing-for-cocoa/

As the communities we serve and our partners (employees) face the impacts of natural disasters – from hurricanes to wildfires – Starbucks and The Starbucks Foundation continue to support disaster relief efforts on the ground, leveraging nonprofit partnerships and ensuring the safety of our partners. Our partners and customers working together to support each other and our communities in the aftermath of disaster has shown how we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection, especially when needed the most. &nbsp;

As part of our Community Promise to contribute positively, our Starbucks partners also extend support to their local communities, from volunteering with and donating to relief efforts to offer comfort and connection through cups of coffee to communities and first responders. When safe to do so, we aim to reopen our stores to offer a safe space for communities to come together, heal and rebuild.

We will continue to use this page to provide timely updates, share examples of how Starbucks is working alongside communities and ways to support relief efforts. As always, we encourage our partners and communities to follow to local authority safety advisements and reference <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/store-locator">Starbucks store locator</a> for store specific information.

Spokane County, WA Wildfires:

The Starbucks Foundation has donated to the following organizations that are providing support to those impacted by the Spokane wildfires.

Canada Wildfires: This year marks an unprecedented wildfire season across Canada. Communities and partners (employees) from coast-to-coast have been uniquely impacted by the worst wildfire season on record. Our thoughts are with the people of Yellowknife, Kelowna, and the many other communities across Canada navigating the devastating effects of wildfires this past year. In response to the ongoing impact of these natural disasters, Starbucks Canada and The Starbucks Foundation are working directly with the Canadian Red Cross as part of its Disaster Response Alliance to provide &nbsp;support to those in need. Additionally, donations at the register are available at Canadian stores as well as on the Canadian Starbucks app to contribute to the Canadian Red Cross 2023 Wildfire Fund. In addition to an annual $100,000 CAD commitment from The Starbucks Foundation to Canadian Red Cross to invest in the safety and resiliency of Canadian communities, The Starbucks Foundation is also &nbsp;donating $20,000 CAD across local charities supporting communities impacted by wildfires. Learn more <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2023/starbucks-canada-supports-communities-impacted-by-wildfires-nationwide/">here</a>.

Hawaii Wildfires: Our thoughts are with the people of Hawaii as they navigate the devastating effects of wildfires burning in Hawaii, most severely on the island of Maui. The Starbucks Foundation has contributed a total of $150,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations providing support to those in need, and we are grateful for the many customers who contributed to supporting Red Cross relief efforts in Hawaii. Learn more <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-supports-communities-impacted-by-hawaii-wildfires/">here</a>.

Starbucks Response and Support for Communities Experiencing Recent Natural Disasters - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Response and Support for Communities Experiencing Recent Natural Disasters

The Starbucks Foundation continue to support disaster relief efforts on the ground, leveraging nonprofit partnerships and ensuring the safety of our partners.

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/support-for-communities-experiencing-recent-natural-disasters/

Our thoughts are with the people of Hawaii as they navigate the devastating effects of wildfires burning in Hawaii, most severely on the island of Maui. Starbucks is working quickly and diligently to ensure the safety of all of our partners (employees) in affected areas and to understand the impact in the communities we serve. The Starbucks Foundation is providing a total of $150,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations providing support to those in need. This includes grants to: &nbsp;

To further assist our partners and communities, Starbucks is supporting our partners (employees) in taking action to respond to this disaster by matching partner donations to nonprofits supporting the Hawai’i wildfires community response and relief efforts. &nbsp;

In addition to this contribution from The Starbucks Foundation, effective August 10 Starbucks will offer customers the opportunity to donate to the Red Cross directly through the point of sale in nearly 9,000 U.S. company-operated locations to assist the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Starbucks Corporation will give the American Red Cross 100% of all donations collected at participating Starbucks stores in the U.S. The American Red Cross will not receive your contact information. Starbucks cannot provide a receipt for your donation at the register. Should you require a donation receipt from the American Red Cross, please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to donate by phone, or give online at <a href="http://redcross.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">redcross.org</a>. The American Red Cross name, emblem and copyrighted materials are being used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by The American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit <a href="http://redcross.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">redcross.org</a>.&nbsp;

Starbucks Supports Communities Impacted by Hawaii Wildfires - Starbucks Stories

Starbucks Supports Communities Impacted by Hawaii Wildfires

Effective August 10 Starbucks will offer customers the opportunity to donate to the Red Cross directly in U.S. company-owned stores.

The Starbucks Foundation Supports Communities Impacted by Hawai’i Wildfires

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/starbucks-supports-communities-impacted-by-hawaii-wildfires/

Regardless of this week’s Supreme Court decisions, I want you to know that our commitment to building an inclusive and diverse Starbucks remains stronger than ever. Real inclusion requires intent and diversity creates stronger communities. As such, we will continue to pursue programs and policies to foster inclusion for our partners, customers and communities, and support efforts that help remove barriers to opportunity so you can thrive, regardless of where you grew up, who you love, or your race, ethnicity, disability or economic background. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Together, our work continues. This is our partner promise – to build a bridge to a better future. &nbsp;

Sara Kelly, executive vice president and chief partner officer

We will continue to pursue programs and policies to foster inclusion for our partners, customers and communities.

Message to Starbucks partners about our commitment to equity and opportunity

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/message-to-starbucks-partners-about-our-commitment-to-equity-and-opportunity/

“No one can take away our legacy and our continued commitment to being a place where all belong. Our mission will continue to guide us and the decisions we make, and it’s more relevant now than ever: with every cup, with every conversation, with every community – we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection.”

Starbucks will always protect your right to be who you are, which is why I am writing to you all today. &nbsp;

We have always believed that our stores are best placed to authentically celebrate year-round with their communities. This includes how stores decorate for heritage months, holidays and community celebrations. As you know, Starbucks has always been about creating a feeling of connection, warmth, allyship, and a sense of belonging – that will never change. For it is our own partners – who inform and inspire the actions we have continued to take. &nbsp;

Throughout our journey, we have heard from our partners that you want to be creative in how our stores are represented and that you see visual creativity in stores as part of who we are and our culture. Equally, we have also heard through our partner channels that there is a need for clarity and consistency on current guidelines around visual displays and decorations. &nbsp;

As Laks and I shared on Friday, I want to reiterate that there has been no change to any of our policies as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture, and the benefits we offer our partners. To further underscore this, we intend to issue clearer centralized guidelines, and leveraging resources like the Period Planning Kit (PPK) and Siren's Eye, for in-store visual displays and decorations that will continue to represent inclusivity and our brand. Additionally, we will continue to provide the flexibility needed so that our stores reflect the communities they serve. As we reaffirm our previous commitments and standards, it will be even clearer to all who we are and what we stand for. &nbsp;

No one can take away our legacy and our continued commitment to being a place where we all belong. Our mission will continue to guide us and the decisions we make, and it’s more relevant now than ever: with every cup, with every conversation, with every community – we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection. &nbsp;

Thank you for sharing your voice, and for your partnership. &nbsp;

Sara &nbsp;Trilling executive vice president and president of Starbucks North America&nbsp;

No one can take away our legacy and our continued commitment to being a place where all belong.

Message to partners: Starbucks will always protect your right to be who you are

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As we have consistently done in celebration of our heritage months, we proudly raised the Progress Pride flag atop our Starbucks Support Center, and in thousands of our stores around the country. Raising the Pride flag continues to be one of our proudest traditions. We do this each year on behalf of partners around the world, to affirm the diversity of our LGBTQIA2+ community and as a call for a more inclusive society – a call we have made since our founding. &nbsp;

We want to be crystal clear – Starbucks has been and will continue to be at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community, and we will not waver in that commitment! Despite today’s public commentary, there has been no change to any of our policies as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture and the benefits we offer our partners. We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for U.S. Pride month in June, as we always have. &nbsp;

We must ALL have the same vision for how all people, including LGBTQIA2+ people, should be treated – with respect, support and allyship, because belonging is a core value. As such, we strongly disapprove of any person or group, seeking to use our partners’ cultural and heritage celebrations to create harm or flagrantly advance misinformation for self-interested goals.&nbsp;

We are <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/celebrating-our-lgbtqia2-partners-and-the-community/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proud of our legacy</a> and nearly 40 years of strong allyship. Throughout this journey, partners across the company, in particular our Pride Network, have played a critical role in shaping the decisions we make. At the heart of this work is ensuring we have inclusive benefits – like family expansion reimbursement for adoption and surrogacy, expanded health insurance options for transgender partners, and medical travel reimbursement when partners are legally unable to access gender affirming care. &nbsp;

Over the years we have also forged non-profit partnerships, expanded self-ID options, advocated for marriage equality to the U.S. Supreme Court, worked with community groups and law enforcement to designate certain Starbucks stores as a Safe Place for victims of anti-LGBTQ-related crimes and harassment, updated our pronoun pins and expanded pronoun options in more of our partner systems, and more. It was this sense of purpose and responsibility, as partners, that led our founder, Howard Schultz, to speak out at our 2013 shareholders meeting in support of same sex marriage stating, “Not every decision is an economic decision. The lens in which we are making that decision is through the lens of our people.” That moment – and the dozens before and after it – forever put us on a path to building a Starbucks where everyone is welcome. 

Starbucks will continue to be a place where our partners, customers, and communities are seen, heard, and valued. This is our work, this is our promise, and this is our purpose. &nbsp;

Laxman Narasimhan, ceo&nbsp; Sara Trilling, evp and president, North America&nbsp;&nbsp;

We want to be crystal clear – Starbucks has been and will continue to be at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community, and we will not waver in that commitment.

A Message from Starbucks: Our Heritage, Our People, Our Purpose

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https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/a-message-from-starbucks-our-heritage-our-people-our-purpose/

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Here at Starbucks, we are dedicated to creating experiences where everyone is welcome and respected, with the belief that we are at our best when we create safe, inclusive environments for people to connect over coffee.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Recognizing Pride Month every June is a longstanding tradition Starbucks is proud to be a part of. There has been no change to any guidance related to how our stores across the United States celebrate this moment. And throughout the year – every single day – our support for the LGBTQIA2+ community is unwavering.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our partners inform and inspire the commitments and actions of the company about issues affecting the LGBTQIA2+ community. We will continue to encourage&nbsp;our retail leaders to work with store teams to find ways to&nbsp;authentically celebrate year-round with their communities.&nbsp;

From the merchandise we display in our inclusive store environments to our company culture and partner benefits, Starbucks has a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/starbucks-pride-a-long-legacy-of-lgbtq-inclusion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storied history</a> that includes more than four decades of listening to, hiring members of, recognizing and celebrating the LGBTQIA2+ community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

We are proud of our legacy. We are proud of each one of our partners who continues to foster Starbucks as a place where everyone is <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/starbucks-commitment-to-lgbtqia2-a-safe-third-place-where-you-are-seen-heard-and-valued/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seen, heard and valued</a>.&nbsp;

Starbucks has a long history of supporting the rights of our LGBTQIA2+ community.

Celebrating our LGBTQIA2+ partners and the community

https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2023/celebrating-our-lgbtqia2-partners-and-the-community/

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