NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani urges boycott of Starbucks

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called on his supporters to boycott Starbucks as unionized baristas launched a nationwide strike demanding a fair contract.

In a post on X, Mamdani said Starbucks workers were on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, encouraging the public to avoid all purchases from the chain until an agreement is reached. “Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee,” he wrote to his 1.1 million followers.

A spokesperson for the mayor-elect’s transition team said New Yorkers should expect Mamdani to “stand unequivocally with labor.”

Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract.

While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us.

Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee. https://t.co/Cw0WMf2hVW

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 14, 2025

Starbucks Workers United, which represents about 9,000 employees, said baristas across more than 25 US cities walked out on “Red Cup Day,” one of Starbucks’ busiest annual promotional events. The union accuses the company of refusing to negotiate in good faith, warning that strikes could escalate without progress toward a contract.

Starbucks said nearly all its stores remained open and maintains it provides strong pay and benefits. The current labor action is the fourth since 2023 and the third under the company’s current leadership.

The labor dispute has grown increasingly contentious, with the union filing more than 1,000 allegations of unfair labor practices and the National Labor Relations Board accusing Starbucks of anti-union tactics, which are claims the company denies.

Last year, striking workers disrupted the same holiday event, temporarily closing dozens of stores. Tensions have continued amid broader changes within the company and pushback from employees over workplace policies.