Why Did New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Boycott Starbucks In USA? 

On November 14, newly elected New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to urge his followers to boycott all Starbucks outlets across the USA. Ahead of the coffee giant’s biggest sales day, the Red Cup Day, Zohran Mamdani announced that he be boycotting the coffee chain and asked others to follow suit. Read on to know.

1000 Starbucks Employees Go On A Strike In USA

Starbucks Workers United, a union formed by Starbucks employees in the USA, announced a strike on November 14. The post read, “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. Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX”

Ahead of Red Cup Day, the biggest sales day of the year for Starbucks turned into the worst-case scenario for them. About 1000 Starbucks employees across 40 cities and 65 outlets in the USA went on an open-ended strike. They decided to hold a protest due to the stagnation in labour negotiations with the coffee giant. The post by Starbucks Workers United urged Americans not to buy anything from Starbucks at any of its locations, as its workers are on a ULP (Unfair Labour Practice) strike.

Also Read: 5 Cheapest Starbucks Drinks To Keep You Energised While Working

Zohran Mamdani Extends His Support

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

New York Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani reposted this. He added, “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.”

An official press release on the union’s website gives reasons for this nationwide strike. It detailed that Starbucks refused to settle a fair union contract. Furthermore, the press release highlighted that union workers were left with no choice. They had to take up drastic action to demand a fair union contract and put an end to unfair labour practices for a better future of the American coffee chain.

The union called Starbucks “the biggest violator of labour law in modern history.” As per the report by The Financial Express, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) discovered 400 labour law violations committed by the coffee chain.

Also Read: Masala Chai For Sharma Ji Ki Chai Or Coffee From Starbucks, This Is What Meethika Dwivedi Chooses

Starbucks’ workers demanded more staffing at prime locations that often see peak hours, apart from a raise in workers’ pay. While Zohran Mamdani has shared his support to the 1000 Starbucks employees who have gone on a strike, news on the resolution is awaited.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Erik Mclean and X/@ZohranKMamdani