Top lesson: Former CEO of Starbucks grilled in Senate + News wrap 3/30/23 + Student video
March 29, 2023
Summary
The former CEO of Starbucks went head to head with Democrats on Capitol Hill in a tense hearing over union drives at the company. Howard Schultz’s opposition to unions has long been public, but some lawmakers and labor leaders allege that he made illegal union-busting moves. Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching! You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Five Facts
- Who is Howard Schultz?
- Why was Schultz called to testify in the Senate?
- What are some of the ways Schultz has been accused of unfair business practices?
- When did Starbucks stores begin to unionize?
- How have unions changed the working conditions at some Starbucks locations?
Focus Questions
What do you think was the purpose of the Senate hearing? What way do you think the Senate might be able to influence labor negotiations?
Media literacy: Why do you think this story was important to cover? What does it say about current events beyond just Starbucks workers?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For More
What students can do: Discuss — why do workers unionize? Skim the following three recent stories about unionization and write down the similarities and differences between what each union drive was trying to accomplish. Then discuss, did these drives succeed in making the working lives better for those they represented?
Los Angeles schools, union leaders reach deal on worker pay and benefits after strike
Tesla workers at New York plant fired after labor push, union says
Video game testers form Microsoft’s 1st U.S. labor union
Student Video of the Day
“What needs to change in education?” via Student Reporting Labs
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