Starbucks to be led by Howard Schultz again as US workers push to unionize

Schultz will be CEO of coffee chain for a third time, while workers across 27 states petition to hold unionization votes

Starbucks' former leader Howard Schultz will replace chief executive Kevin Johnson as the coffee chain deals with a wave of unionization drives among its baristas.

The shakeup in leadership, announced on Wednesday, comes as Starbucks workers across the country are pushing to form unions. Since a Starbucks store in Buffalo, New York became the first store to vote to unionize in December, workers at six other locations have unionized, and workers at 130 other stores across 27 states have petitioned to hold votes.