Schultz, who’s Jewish, mentioned a rabbi in Israel informed him in regards to the experiences of prisoners at focus camps in Poland: They had been solely given a couple of blankets and needed to share.
“Not everybody, however most individuals shared their blanket with 5 different individuals,” mentioned Schultz. “A lot of that story is threaded into what we have tried to do at Starbucks — is share our blanket.”
Reactions to his analogy have been wide-ranging. Holocaust prisoners’ selflessness whereas dealing with loss of life is not a direct parallel to a Fortune 500 firm offering advantages to its workers.
Starbucks did not instantly return request for remark.
Schultz on Saturday met with a bunch of workers from the Buffalo-area. The corporate closed some space shops so Schultz might converse to baristas who’re voting on an unionization effort. A employee concerned within the effort beforehand informed CNN Enterprise that they are doing this as a result of it is the one technique to have their voices heard about the best way their shops are run.
In his speak with workers, Schultz detailed the numerous advantages Starbucks presents that aren’t tendered by others within the trade, together with well being care protection for part-time staff and school tuition reimbursement. The corporate has issued two wage will increase within the final 18 months, and its common wage is greater than than $12 an hour and greater than half of its US workers get greater than $15 an hour. It additionally says it has the very best retention price within the trade.
The Nationwide Labor Relations Board is sending staff ballots starting Wednesday.
— CNN Enterprise’ Chris Isidore contributed to this report.
