Scott flames Starbucks union for pro-Hamas rhetoric, threatens boycott until ‘action’ taken
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott targeted a Starbucks workers’ union, and Starbucks itself, over the union’s pro-Hamas rhetoric in support of terror attacks against Israel and Israeli civilians.
Scott responded to a report of a now-deleted social media post from Starbucks Workers United posting “Solidarity with Palestine!”
“This is disgusting,” Scott said. “Every American should condemn the atrocities that Iran-backed Hamas terrorists committed in Israel.”
The Florida senator called for a boycott of Starbucks “until its leadership strongly denounces and takes action against this horrific support of terrorism.”
The same day, Starbucks did denounce the union’s statements.
To be clear: We unequivocally condemn 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.
Starbucks, Oct. 11, 2023.
Starbucks emphasized that the comments from the union “do not represent the company’s views, positions or beliefs.”
In a statement, Starbucks continued that there is no official “legal entity” called “Starbucks Workers United.”
“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,” they said.
“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.”
The union has caused public relations trouble for Starbucks in the past. Recently, Starbucks responded to the same group claiming the popular coffee chain purportedly banning LGBTQ “pride” decorations in its U.S. locations.
Starbucks had grilled the group for spreading “false information.”
Scott has been vocal on the Israel-Hamas war, and this week demanded President Joe Biden convene a meeting of the G7 countries to take strong action against Iran, purportedly behind the planning of terror attacks against Israeli civilians.
