NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani calls for Starbucks boycott as union strikes

Coffee enthusiasts, gather your cups?

New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who aligns with socialist principles, is encouraging his supporters to boycott Starbucks as union workers engage in strikes nationwide.

This move may indicate how Mamdani, a pro-union advocate who has pledged free buses, a rent freeze, and free childcare for New Yorkers, intends to leverage his new political power, as noted by Business Insider.

“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,” Mamdani shared in a post on X to his 1.1 million followers on Thursday night. “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.”

Both Starbucks and Mamdani’s campaign have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Post.

On “Red Cup Day,” a day when Starbucks employees distribute free holiday-themed cups to customers, workers in over 25 US cities went on strike. This day is typically a significant sales day for the coffee giant each year.

Starbucks reported that about 99.9% of its stores remained open.

Starbucks Workers United, representing approximately 9,000 of the chain’s 200,000-plus baristas, has accused Starbucks of refusing to negotiate. The union has warned that the strikes could escalate if no progress is made towards a fair contract.

The company has countered by stating that the union has presented unreasonable contract proposals, asserting that it already offers “the best job in retail” with an average pay of $19 an hour – a figure that amounts to over $30 an hour when benefits are factored in, according to Starbucks.

This current strike marks the fourth organized action by the union against Starbucks since 2023, and the third since Brian Niccol assumed leadership of the chain in 2024.

Although discussions seemed promising last February, they quickly broke down amid mutual accusations just a few months later.

Workers United revealed that they have filed over 1,000 charges against Starbucks for alleged unfair labor practices to the National Labor Relations Board.

The labor board itself has accused Starbucks of employing anti-union tactics, such as shutting down stores and terminating workers who participate in strikes. Starbucks has refuted these allegations.

This is not the first time that union workers have targeted “Red Cup Day” during contract negotiations. 

Last year, workers went on strike during the holiday-themed event, resulting in the temporary closure of approximately 60 stores, as per the company.

Tensions have escalated as workers have pushed back against some of Niccol’s restructuring efforts.

Shortly after taking the helm, Niccol announced plans to purchase 200,000 Sharpies and have employees doodle friendly messages on coffee cups. 

However, workers criticized the doodle policy, arguing that it consumes too much time and could be misinterpreted by customers as flirtatious behavior.

Starbucks has also faced backlash after abruptly closing hundreds of stores nationwide, including 59 unionized locations, with only a few days’ notice.

These closures targeted numerous Starbucks establishments in New York City, leading to turmoil for employees, city officials, and landlords.