
Starbucks Head of North America Business Leaving Company | Washington News
SEATTLE (AP) — Rossann Williams, Starbucks’ North America president who’s been a prominent figure in the company’s push against worker unionization, is leaving the company after 17 years.
In a letter sent to Starbucks employees, whom the company calls “partners,” chief operating officer John Culver said the decision “was not taken lightly” and added that Williams was offered another job at the company, which she declined.
Sara Trilling, meanwhile, was promoted to executive vice president and president of Starbucks North America. Trilling is a 20-year veteran of Starbucks and most recently served as senior vice president and president of Starbucks Asia Pacific in Hong Kong.
Starbucks has been among the latest wave of prominent companies seeing unionization efforts among their hourly workers. In December, a Starbucks store in Buffalo became the first to unionize at one of the coffee retailer’s company-owned U.S. stores. At least 150 of Starbucks’ 9,000 company-run U.S. stores have voted to unionize since then, according to the National Labor Relations Board, and at least 10 stores have rejected the union.
Political Cartoons

Williams told employees in a letter last year Starbucks never favored unionization and prefers to speak directly to employees, but respects the legal process and wants to work with those in Buffalo who voted in favor of union representation.
In April of this year, though, federal labor officials alleged that Starbucks retaliated against workers in Phoenix after it learned of employees there seeking to unionize.
“Among other things, Starbucks disciplined, suspended, and discharged one employee, constructively discharged another, and placed a third on an unpaid leave of absence after revoking recently granted accommodations,” the filing said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
More Stories
Malden to receive Business for the Arts Award
The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts has named Deborah Malden, an advocate for the arts in Boulder, among the...
School and business cancellations and closings in North Texas for Wednesday, Feb. 1
Icy winter weather continues to pummel North Texas. Schools and businesses stay closed for Wednesday. Here's the list so far....
Nashville Master Movers Celebrates 23 Years In Business
Nashville-Davidson, Jan. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee -Nashville, Tennessee based Nashville Master Movers is reaching out to their...
A Work of Heart’s contract with the Grand Central Mall will come to an end after 14 years of business
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - In just a week the 14 year contract of A Work of Heart will come to...
Usain Bolt fires business manager over Jamaica fraud case
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt told reporters Friday that he is baffled over how $12.7 million...
Required business, multi-family recycling service on track for March start
Cam Lewis, general manager at Moe's Original BBQ in Steamboat Springs, breaks down cardboard boxes for recycling in the trash...