In October, says Bloomberg, Starbucks illegally asked law enforcement to intervene in an employee union picket line. U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, and Ed Markey even wrote a letter to interim CEO Howard Schultz, demanding he reveal how much money corporate Starbucks had collectively spent on legal fees battling the union, per Reuters. Still, these numerous and glaring allegations of worker mistreatment didn't stop corporate Starbucks from enjoying a more lucrative year than ever. In September, the Pumpkin Spice Latte 's seasonal release gained Starbucks the highest-grossing sales week in the company's 51-year history (via Restaurant Business .) In November, Starbucks' global revenue hit a record high of $32.3 billion in the 2022 fiscal year, with 9% year-over-year growth in returning customer base, via QSR.