Union Efforts Spike-Is Starbucks Employee Friendly?

How can Starbucks (SBUX 0.47%) get back on a solid growth trajectory? That's the question many shareholders want an answer to. In this clip from "3 Minute Stocks Updates" on Motley Fool Live, recorded on June 22, Motley Fool contributors Rachel Warren and Toby Bordelon discuss the optics surrounding the unionization headlines and how they might influence perception of the coffee chain.

Rachel Warren: You were talking about these ongoing unionization efforts. We've seen a lot of headlines about this. Are you worried about how these efforts could impact Starbucks's business moving forward and do the recent changes in management, Howard Schultz in the CEO chair for the third time, does that concern you at all as an investor?

Toby Bordelon: Yeah. Honestly, I'm a little worried. I'm not worried by the unionization efforts themselves, not because they are happening. It worries me though that the fact that they are all happening suggest the company has lost its ties with its employees, that they're no longer viewed as employee-friendly. That's problematic, especially in this tight labor environment. How are you going to come and work for you if you're viewed out there as not a great place to work? That's not great, and I honestly don't love the management situation. Howard Schultz was great, but I'm not sure he's the right guy right now. I hope they can get a permanent CEO soon. I hope they can plug these other holes that seem to be coming up with the executives. I think it needs somebody who can get this business back on a solid growth trajectory and not have this labor restructuring out there. Figure this out, and come up with the solution so that we can move on.

Warren: Yeah, definitely want to watch that.