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Rabat – Coffee giant Starbucks has filed a lawsuit against its labor union “Starbucks Workers United” in federal court in Iowa on Wednesday after a union account made a social media post expressing support for Palestine amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
Starbucks said that the pro-Palestine post had angered hundreds of customers and tarnished the company’s reputation, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The company demanded that the union cease using the name “Starbucks Workers United” for their worker organizing group and refrain from using a circular green logo that resembles Starbucks’ own logo.
Starbucks alleged that Workers United’s use of its name and logo has caused significant damage to its brand.
In response to Starbucks’ legal action, Workers United filed its own lawsuit, seeking permission from a federal court in Pennsylvania to continue using the Starbucks name and a logo that is similar to the coffee company’s.
In addition, Workers United stressed that Starbucks had defamed the union by implying support for terrorism and violence, in light of the social media post.
The social media post in question was made on X, formerly known as Twitter, on October 9, with the message “Solidarity with Palestine!”
Read also: French Club Suspends Algerian Footballer Over Pro-Palestine Post
It was published by the Starbucks Workers United account, and Workers United clarified that it was posted without authorization from union leaders.
Although the post was taken down after about 40 minutes, other posts and retweets from local Starbucks Workers United branches expressing support for Palestinians and condemning Israel’s aggression remained visible on X.
Starbucks reported receiving over 1,000 complaints following the union’s social media post. This included Starbucks workers experiencing hostile encounters with customers and threatening phone calls, as well as incidents of vandalism in Rhode Island.
Starbucks has since expressed its sympathy for innocent victims on both sides.
“Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of hate, terrorism, and violence,” Starbucks Executive Vice President Sara Kelly wrote in a letter to employees last week.
