Israel-Hamas conflict stirs up controversy among major corporations
Date
10/24/2023 8:57:15 AM
(MENAFN) The Israel-Hamas conflict has stirred up controversy among major corporations, highlighting the complexities of navigating a high-stakes and politically charged conflict. Starbucks found itself in a legal battle with its union, Starbucks Workers United, after the labor organization posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Although the message was later deleted, it led to calls for a Starbucks boycott, with some mistakenly assuming the union's stance represented that of the company.
At McDonald's, an Israel-based franchise announced the offering of free food to Israeli military members, which triggered a backlash from consumers and prompted other franchises to distance themselves from the move.
Furthermore, hundreds of Google employees circulated a petition in response to a public letter from CEO Sundar Pichai that they believed favored Israel. This move was met with dissent from employees who disagreed with the company's stance on the matter.
In response to these challenges, Starbucks clarified that the views expressed by Starbucks Workers United, its local affiliates, union organizers, and individuals identifying as members of the union do not represent Starbucks Coffee Company's official views, positions, or beliefs, as stated by Sara Kelly, the executive vice president and chief partner officer at Starbucks.
McDonald's, on the other hand, primarily emphasized the safety of its employees. The company made a charitable contribution of USD1 million, evenly split between the Red Cross and The World Food Program, to support people in the affected region.
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