Starbucks Employees to Send Politicians Message on Cliff

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) workers in Washington will write “Come Together” on cups this week to encourage U.S. politicians to reach a compromise to reduce the national debt.

The message, the first time the coffee-shop chain has ever asked employees to write something on customers’ cups, will last through Dec. 28, Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz said today in a post on the company’s website.

Schultz last year encouraged business leaders to withhold contributions to U.S. political campaigns until politicians reached a solution to the nation’s growing debt. He also worked with Opportunity Finance Network to form “Create Jobs for USA,” which collected donations online and at Starbucks locations to help fund loans that would encourage small businesses to create jobs.

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have been unable to agree on a plan to avoid $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts that has become known as the fiscal cliff. Lawmakers and Obama are scheduled to return to Washington tomorrow.

Starbucks, based in Seattle, fell 1 percent to $53.13 at the close in New York. The shares have gained 15 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Orland in Chicago at korland@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Robin Ajello at rajello@bloomberg.net