Starbucks shareholders have overwhelmingly re-elected the full board, dismissing a campaign by labor-aligned investor groups that had urged votes against two directors over concerns about the company’s handling of labor relations. The challenge centered on the board’s decision to dissolve a dedicated committee overseeing workforce and union matters, with critics arguing this weakened oversight amid ongoing tensions with unionized baristas. Proxy advisers had also raised governance concerns, but Starbucks maintained that labor oversight now sits with the full board, which it said has the necessary expertise. The vote represents a clear endorsement of the company’s current governance approach and leadership under chief executive Brian Niccol, despite continuing scrutiny of its labor practices and recent efforts to restart negotiations with unions representing a minority of its U.S. workforce.
