The Daily Money

ALL THE MONEY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Thu Mar 30 2023

Charisse Jones | Economic Opportunity Reporter

Happy Thursday! It's Charisse Jones with your Daily Money headlines.

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says the company has not broken the law when it comes to treatment of workers trying to unionize.

Schultz appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday to answer sometimes heated questions about whether the company has violated labor laws.

"Starbucks coffee company unequivocally has not broken the law," Schultz said again and again during the hearing.

Since Dec. 2021, nearly 300 Starbucks locations have unionized but workers claim the company has vigorously fought against those efforts, retaliating against employees who wanted to collectively bargain or who called for better pay and working conditions.

An administrative judge determined in March that the coffee chain was guilty of "egregious and widespread misconduct" in the way it dealt with workers at a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York that became the first company location to unionize. Additionally, The National Labor Relations Board has filed over 80 complaints alleging that Starbucks has violated federal labor laws.

News Howard Schultz Starbucks Union Hearing

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, testifies in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about Starbucks' alleged union busting activities in Washington.

Josh Morgan, USA TODAY

More MSC Cruises on the way

MSC Cruises, the Geneva, Switzerland-based cruise operator, is moving full-throttle in its U.S. expansion, increasing trips from American ports and unveiling a new ship that is tailored to North American tastes.

World America will start sailing in 2025 and will feature MSC's first comedy club, along with food trucks for diners wanting more casual meals, and a water park that includes VR.

"The only way to grow the way MSC Cruises wants to grow and to fill all these ships we've ordered is to accelerate growth in the U.S. market, because the U.S. market is the largest cruise market in the world," MSC Cruises USA President Rubén Rodríguez told USA TODAY.

📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰

Rare diamond for sale: The 10.57-carat Eternal Pink Diamond is expected to sell for more than $35 million, and may beat the record price of $57.7 million when it's auctioned by Sotheby's in New York on June 8.

Will the Kroger deal happen? Kroger's proposed $25 billion merger with supermarket rival Albertsons may be quashed if the Federal Trade Commission fights the tie-up in court.

Adidas won't fight Black Lives Matter logo: The sportswear brand previously said the logo could be confused with its trademark, but it's now told the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that it's no long opposed to Black Lives Matter's use of the emblem.

🍔 Today's Menu 🍔

Spring has arrived but Dairy Queen is still offering up a flurry of blizzards. The company has unveiled its new menu of Blizzard flavors, and to celebrate the year the frozen treat first appeared, you can get the sweet for just 85 cents.

Use the DQ mobile app to order one of the signature ice cream desserts. The special discount is available from April 10 to 23.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TL;DR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.

Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter: @charissejones