Zohran Mamdani tells 1M social media followers to boycott Starbucks amid ongoing worker strike
In a bold show of solidarity with striking workers, New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has called on his extensive social media following to boycott Starbucks amidst an ongoing labor dispute. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 34-year-old progressive leader urged his more than one million followers to join him in refraining from purchasing coffee from the chain while its employees engage in what is being termed the “Red Cup Rebellion.” This nationwide strike, led by Starbucks Workers United, aims to address claims of unfair labor practices and push for a fair contract for workers. Mamdani’s rallying cry, “No contract, no coffee,” emphasizes the importance of collective action in advocating for workers’ rights.
Coinciding with Mamdani’s appeal, Starbucks Workers United officially announced an open-ended strike, marking a significant moment in labor history for the company. The timing of the strike is particularly notable as it coincides with Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day, a promotional event that typically sees a surge in customer traffic. Despite the strike, Starbucks reported that 99% of its locations remained operational, and sales exceeded expectations, suggesting that the impact of the labor action may not be as widespread as the union had hoped. Jaci Anderson, the Director of Global Communications for Starbucks, defended the company’s practices, highlighting that the union represents a small fraction of their workforce and asserting that employee engagement remains high.
Mamdani’s recent election as mayor represents a shift in New York City’s political landscape, as he won both the Democratic primary and the general election against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as a democratic socialist. His stance on the Starbucks boycott aligns with a broader trend of labor activism that has gained momentum in recent years, reflecting a growing awareness of workers’ rights and the need for fair labor practices. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the strike will affect Starbucks’ operations in the long term and whether Mamdani’s call to action will resonate with consumers beyond his immediate follower base.
New York Mayor-elect
Zohran Mamdani
encouraged his more than 1 million X followers this week to boycott Starbucks.
“Starbucks workers across the country are on an
Unfair Labor Practices strike
, fighting for a fair contract,” the 34-year-old wrote on Thursday. “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.”
On the same day, Starbucks Workers United, a union representing workers at the coffee giant, announced it was going on an open-ended strike in what is being dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion.”
1K UNIONIZED STARBUCKS BARISTAS LAUNCH LABOR STRIKE AT 65 STORES
“As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE,” the union wrote on social media. “And we’re prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history. Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX.”
Thursday was also
Starbucks’ Red Cup Day
, during which customers can pick up a free reusable festive red cup for the holidays.
Jaci Anderson, Starbucks Director of Global Communications, noted in comments to Fox News Digital:
“In terms of our annual Reusable Red Cup Day – we actually had a great day – 99% of our coffeehouses remained open and welcoming customers and we exceeded our sales expectations across company-operated coffeehouses in North America, making it the best Red Cup Day ever.”
CHICAGO BARISTA SAYS STARBUCKS WORKERS ARE BEING ‘ABUSED VERBALLY’ UNDER NEW CEO POLICIES
Red Cup Day is typically one of the company’s busiest days.
She further pushed back against the union narrative:
“We’re disappointed that Workers United, who represents less than 4% of our partners, has called for a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table. Less than 1% of our coffeehouses are experiencing any level of disruption and the vast majority of our 240,000 partners came to work ready to serve customers and celebrate Reuseable Red Cup Day.  Â
We’ve been very clear – when the union is ready to come back to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk. The facts show people like working at Starbucks. Partner engagement is up, turnover is nearly half the industry average, and we get more than 1 million job applications a year.Â
Any agreement needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners.”  Â
Mamdani was elected mayor Nov. 4 after a
shocking win in the Democratic primary
in June as a democratic socialist. Both times he handily beat former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent in the general election.
Mamdani’s office didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
