NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Backs Nationwide Starbucks Boycott During "Red Cup Rebellion" Strike

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has publicly urged citizens to boycott Starbucks following a massive nationwide strike involving over a thousand workers across the country.

The labor action, organized by Starbucks Workers United, comes as employees demand better wages, improved staffing conditions, and resolution of numerous unfair labor practice complaints that have been filed against the company.

Responding to Starbucks Workers United on social media platform X, Mamdani declared his solidarity with the striking workers by refusing to purchase coffee from Starbucks during the strike period and encouraged others to join him in this boycott effort.

"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," Mamdani stated. "Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee."

The union has described this walkout as an Unfair Labour Practices (ULP) strike on their social media channels, warning it could potentially become the largest and longest strike in Starbucks' corporate history.

"As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history," the union announced, adding, "Say No Contract No Coffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike!"

Workers have designated this labor action as an open-ended strike, meaning they intend to continue the walkout until their demands are adequately addressed. The strike has been strategically named "Red Cup Rebellion."

The timing of the strike coincides with Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day, one of the company's busiest promotional events when stores typically experience high customer volumes as people line up to receive free reusable holiday cups.

According to union representatives, Starbucks has violated labor laws more frequently than almost any other company in recent history. They have pointed out that Administrative Law Judges at the National Labor Relations Board have found the company guilty of over 400 labor law violations.

The strike has garnered participation from workers in more than 25 cities throughout the United States, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Dallas, Seattle, Ohio, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia.