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Charisa Bossinakis
Starbucks founder Howard Schultz has a net worth of USD $3.7 billion (AUD $5.5 billion), but he reckons it is ‘unfair’ to be call him a billionaire.
So, without further ado, we present to you the world's tiniest violin.
During congressional hearings on allegations of union-busting at the coffee chain in Washington, the former CEO came under fire by none other than Bernie Sanders, VICE reports.
Sanders described Starbucks as the ‘most aggressive and illegal union-busting campaign in the modern history of our country’.
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But Schultz pushed back, refuted Sanders' claim.
He also shut down the idea that he was a billionaire - okay then, Kylie Jenner.
"I grew up in federally subsidised housing. My parents never owned a home. I came from nothing. I thought my entire life was based on the achievement of the American dream," he said.
"Yes, I have billions of dollars,” he so brazenly admitted.
Stunning, brave, beautiful words.
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"I earned it. No one gave it to me. And I’ve shared it constantly with the people of Starbucks. And so anyone who keeps labelling this ‘billionaire’ thing…" he said before adding 'it's unfair'.
However, Sanders interjected to remind the billionaire - sorry - of the committee’s time and to please stick to the issue at hand.
But Schultz wasn’t done yet.
“It’s your moniker constantly, it’s unfair,” he added.
Since Starbucks was first unionised last year, there has been ongoing disputes between labour unions and the company.
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Union officials claim that they have repeatedly found the coffee house chain has broken federal laws, including illegally terminating staff.
"Those are allegations and Starbucks has not broken the law," Mr Schultz said before the committee, as per BBC News.
However, Senator Chris Murphy said the former boss' remarks were akin to someone speeding multiple times but not admitting fault as a cop didn't spring them.
"That would not be a believable contention," he added.
The hearing comes more than a year after staff at a Starbucks coffee shop in Buffalo voted to form a union, a step since taken by more than 270 stores representing around 7,000 workers.
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However, Schultz has fiercely campaigned that the company was guilty of any wrongdoing, explaining that Starbucks even offered workers average hourly wages, access to health insurance, college tuition support and stock grants.
After the hearing, lawmakers also heard from two Starbucks baristas, one current and one former.