Starbucks union is using billboards, a brass band, and a butter sculpture to pressure board members from Nike, Land O'Lakes and Lego
Universal Images Group Editorial / Getty Images
- Starbucks union organizers are stepping up pressure on individual members of the company's board.
- Leaders at Nike, Lego, and Land O' Lakes were targeted using billboards, a movie trailer, a brass band, and even a butter sculpture.
- The push comes a week after shareholders voted in favor of an investigation into Starbucks' labor practices.
Organizers with Starbucks Workers United are taking the fight directly to individual board members, with stunts tailored to the brand identities of the companies those executives lead.
In New York, local organizers hit the streets with a brass band and a skit in front of Nike's flagship location there; another contingent hired a mobile billboard truck asking Nike Chief Operating Officer Andrew Campion to "Just Do It" at Nike's headquarters near Portland, Oregon.
Over in Minnesota, Twin Cities organizers unveiled a butter sculpture modeled off a hybrid of Land O' Lakes CEO Beth Ford and the Starbucks mermaid logo, which was to be delivered to the dairy company's offices, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, in San Diego and online, a Lego Movie-styled trailer premiered with the aim of enlisting Lego President Jorgen Vig Knudstorp to join the side of Starbucks workers.
Tensions have been growing between Starbucks and its union over the past few months. And now, those tensions are spilling over to other companies as the union targets Starbucks' board of directors. The union's action could represent a new front in pushing independent companies — who are generally loathed to meddle in one another's affairs — to choose a side in the fight.
Starbucks declined to comment on the record for this story. Starbucks Worker United did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
The actions from the union come less than a week after the news that shareholders voted in favor of a proposal to bring in a third party that would investigate the company's labor practices.
Last week US senators, including Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey, grilled former CEO Howard Schultz about allegations of union busting at the company. On Saturday, the first employee to kick off the unionization drive revealed that her position had been terminated.
Correction: April 4, 2023 — This story was updated to include a statement from Starbucks Workers Unite, and corrected a reference to the location of the Lego Movie-styled trailer in California. That event took place in San Diego, not Los Angeles.