Starbucks Investors Push to Remove Two Board Members Over Stalled Union Negotiations

A coalition of prominent institutional investors is calling on Starbucks shareholders to vote against the reelection of two board members at the coffee chain's annual meeting on 25 March, arguing that the directors bear direct responsibility for the company's inability to reach a first union contract after more than four years of organizing Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, the Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education, and the comptrollers of both New York State and New York City issued a joint letter targeting directors Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth.... Knudstorp, a former chief executive of the Lego Group, and Ford, who leads the Land O'Lakes agricultural cooperative, have held oversight roles tied to labor relations and board governance during the period in which Starbucks' dispute with its workers has deepened Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talkstheguardian.com·SecondaryBoard members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford face scrutiny for the coffee chain’s ongoing labor dispute Starbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive..

A Union Campaign Without a Contract

More than 680 Starbucks locations across the United States have voted to unionize since baristas in Buffalo, New York, launched the organizing drive in 2021 Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth.... Workers United, the union representing those stores, has reached 34 tentative agreements with management — yet the company has not finalized a single binding contract Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

The lack of progress is not for want of trying on the union's side. Bargaining broke down after barista delegates voted to reject Starbucks' economic proposals in April 2025 Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth.... The union subsequently launched an open-ended unfair-labor-practice strike in November 2025 that spread to dozens of cities by December, with several thousand workers walking off the job during the holiday rush — one of Starbucks' most lucrative periods Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talkstheguardian.com·SecondaryBoard members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford face scrutiny for the coffee chain’s ongoing labor dispute Starbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive..

The strike has since scaled back, and the union has shifted its strategy toward public pressure campaigns, including urging customers to delete the Starbucks mobile app Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth.... Union leaders say they want a starting wage floor of $17 an hour, annual pay increases that keep pace with inflation, and a staffing minimum of three baristas per store Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

The Board Oversight Question

At the center of the investor revolt is a governance decision that has drawn criticism from both proxy advisory firms and labor advocates. In 2023, Starbucks created a dedicated board committee — the Environmental, Partner, and Community Impact Committee — to oversee labor relations after shareholders successfully pushed the company to commission an independent audit of its approach to union organizing. That committee has since been dissolved under the current board structure, with its responsibilities folded into the full board's remit.

Two of the most influential proxy advisory firms have weighed in. Institutional Shareholder Services, the world's largest proxy adviser, noted in its pre-meeting analysis that there are ongoing labor controversies and that the adequacy of board oversight remains unclear Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth.... ISS also highlighted a recent $38.9 million settlement Starbucks agreed to pay over violations of New York City's fair-workweek scheduling laws — the largest such settlement in the city's history Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Glass Lewis, another leading proxy firm, went further, recommending that shareholders vote against Beth Ford's reelection outright. The firm pointed specifically to the dissolution of the labor oversight committee and argued that the governance committee Ford chairs bears responsibility for ensuring risks to shareholder interests are properly monitored Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talkstheguardian.com·SecondaryBoard members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford face scrutiny for the coffee chain’s ongoing labor dispute Starbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive..

What the Shareholders Say

The investor coalition's letter frames the issue as one of accountability. Tejal Patel, executive director of the SOC Investment Group — a Starbucks shareholder affiliated with organized labor — said there was a noticeable shift in 2025 that raised renewed concerns. She noted that bargaining has produced no first contract and that the risks associated with workforce relations have intensified rather than diminished Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

The coalition wrote that what it characterized as a sudden reversal on labor-relations oversight is inconsistent with Starbucks' stated turnaround strategy and that the changes have not been adequately explained to shareholders Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Kyle Seeley, deputy director of corporate governance at the New York State Common Retirement Fund, argued during a webinar that the board should be strengthening oversight of a risk that is getting worse, not simplifying it Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Workers on the Ground

The dispute is not merely a boardroom abstraction. Daisy Pitkin, director of Starbucks Workers United, said management has made no new proposals since workers rejected the company's last economic offer in April 2025. The union's core demands include a $17-per-hour starting wage, annual raises, and minimum staffing levels Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Pitkin noted a gap between the company's public claims and its workers' lived reality. While Starbucks has stated publicly that baristas earn an average of $30 an hour when benefits are included, the union points out that in 34 states, the actual starting hourly wage is $15.25, and in nine additional states it begins at $16 or less Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Jasmine Leli, a barista in Buffalo where the union movement began, described ongoing challenges including understaffing, unfair labor practice complaints filed at the store level, and difficulty paying bills Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talkstheguardian.com·SecondaryBoard members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford face scrutiny for the coffee chain’s ongoing labor dispute Starbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive..

Starbucks' Response

The company has pushed back against the narrative that it has been negotiating in bad faith. Starbucks said it remains committed to bargaining and characterized the shareholder campaign as similar to a previous effort that did not gain majority support Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talksfinance.yahoo.com·SecondaryStarbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive. The SOC Investment Group, Trillium Asset Management, Merseyside Pension Fund, the non-profit Shareholder Association for Research and Education (Share), and the New York state and New York City comptrollers wrote a letter to Starbucks shareholders to vote “no” on the re-election of board members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth....

Spokesperson Jaci Anderson said in a statement that the board has the skills and experience needed to oversee the company's strategy, including human-capital management. Anderson pointed to what Starbucks describes as the best jobs in retail, noting that pay and benefits average $30 an hour for hourly workers, that employee turnover is well below industry norms, and that more than a million people apply to work at the company every year Starbucks shareholders push to oust board members over stalled union talkstheguardian.com·SecondaryBoard members Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Beth Ford face scrutiny for the coffee chain’s ongoing labor dispute Starbucks shareholders are pushing to remove two board members at the company who they argue have contributed to stalling the coffee chain’s long-fought-over union drive..

Starbucks has also said it proposed resuming in-person bargaining with Workers United as soon as this month, a signal that the company recognizes the political and financial pressure building ahead of the annual meeting.

What Happens Next

The annual shareholders' meeting on 25 March will serve as a referendum of sorts on the board's handling of labor relations. Even if Knudstorp and Ford survive the vote, a strong showing of opposition would send a clear signal that institutional investors view the ongoing dispute as a material governance risk.

The broader stakes are significant. Starbucks under CEO Brian Niccol, who took the top job in 2024, has been pursuing a turnaround strategy for its sluggish U.S. business. Holiday-quarter results showed the first increase in store traffic in two years — a fragile recovery that an escalating labor conflict could easily derail.

For the union, the March 25 vote represents another pressure point in a campaign that has stretched across five years, hundreds of store elections, and thousands of unfair-labor-practice filings. For investors, the question is whether a board that dismantled its own labor-oversight committee is equipped to manage a dispute that shows no signs of resolution.

The outcome could reshape how major corporations approach organized labor at a moment when union activity across American retail and service industries is at its highest level in decades.