Starbucks said it is troubled by social media posts supporting Hamas made by its union Workers United. .“To be clear: We unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism, hate and violence and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members,” said Starbucks in a statement..“Workers United’s words and actions belong to them and them alone.”.Starbucks acknowledged Workers United, its affiliates, organizers and members do not speak for it and do not represent its views, positions or beliefs. .There is no legal entity known as Starbucks Workers United. Rather, it is a subset 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 Canada and the United States. .While the union is entitled to its opinion, Starbucks said it is committed to nurturing the limitless possibilities of human connection. It has been on a journey to create environments where everyone feels welcomed and a sense of belonging. .It added its actions “have always been — and will always be — driven through the lens of humanity.”.“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,” it said. .Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said in times such as these, “it is essential that we remember what makes us Starbucks partners and that we lean on our shared value of belonging.”.“Let us remember that our strength lies in our ability to support one another with empathy and understanding, irrespective of our backgrounds and experiences,” said Narasimhan. .“Together, we can continue to cultivate a safe and welcoming workplace where everyone feels heard, valued and included.”.Starbucks EVP and Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly said as a leadership team, it wants to express sympathies for people who have been affected by the attacks in Israel and Gaza this week. .“Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of hate, terrorism and violence,” said Kelly. .This ordeal comes after McMaster University said on Wednesday CUPE Local 3906 should not have praised Hamas during its ongoing conflict with Israel. .READ MORE: Hamilton university denounces union for supporting Hamas.“I've written a lot of critical things about @McMasterU, but this is a great message that the university president just put out, denouncing the insane terror-supporting comments from @cupe_3906,” said Quillette associate editor Jonathan Kay. .McMaster executives David Farrar, Susan Tighe, Andy Knights and Paul O’Byrne said while free speech must thrive in universities, “there is no room for hate of any kind at McMaster.”
