New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and Trillium Asset Management filed a shareholder proposal urging Starbucks to reinstate a board committee with independent oversight of its labor relations. This proposal precedes the company's 2027 annual meeting. It follows the board's dissolution of a similar committee in November 2025.
The investors argue that returning oversight of this critical risk area to the full board is insufficient. They cite the company's ongoing labor disputes. They contend a dedicated committee is necessary to protect long-term shareholder value. Such a committee would also address hundreds of unfair labor practice charges filed against Starbucks. The company has yet to reach a collective bargaining agreement. This comes nearly five years after the first store unionized.