On Thursday, a labor rights organization initiated legal action against Starbucks, claiming that the company sourced its coffee from a prominent Brazilian cooperative involved with farms accused of maintaining inhumane working conditions akin to slavery. The lawsuit was filed by International Rights Advocates in the U.S. District Court in Washington on behalf of eight workers from Brazilian coffee farms.
The suit alleges that Starbucks breached U.S. trafficking regulations by persisting in its purchase of coffee from Cooxupe, even after Brazilian authorities had consistently flagged the cooperative for violations related to trafficking and forced labor.
The workers, who remain unnamed in the legal documents due to fears of retaliation as per International Rights Advocates, claim they were enticed to work on farms with promises of fair wages and decent working conditions. However, upon arrival, they found themselves in deplorable living situations, and their wages were reduced by the costs associated with their transportation, food, and equipment.
“Consumers are paying exorbitant prices for a Starbucks coffee that is essentially produced by trafficked workers,” stated Terry Collingsworth, founder of International Rights Advocates and the plaintiffs’ representative. “It’s crucial to hold Starbucks responsible for deriving profits from human trafficking,” he added.
Starbucks responded on Thursday, stating that the allegations in the lawsuit hold no validity. The company clarified that it only procures coffee from a minor portion of Cooxupe’s 19,000 member farms. According to Starbucks, all its coffee originates from farms that align with the company’s rigorous standards regarding labor and environmental practices. Their verification program, said to be developed by independent experts, includes regular audits conducted by third-party organizations.
“Starbucks is dedicated to the ethical sourcing of coffee, which includes safeguarding the rights of workers on the farms from which we purchase,” the company asserted in a statement.
Cooxupe, on its part, stated on Thursday that it is not involved in the lawsuit and has not been provided access to it.