Coffee drinkers of the world, unite?<\/p>\n
New York City\u2019s socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is urging his followers to boycott Starbucks as union workers go on strike across the country.<\/p>\n
The call could show how Mamdani \u2013 a pro-union voice who has promised New Yorkers free buses, a rent freeze and free childcare \u2013 plans to use his newfound political influence, Business Insider noted<\/a>.<\/p>\n New York City\u2019s socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is urging his followers to boycott Starbucks. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cStarbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,\u201d Mamdani wrote in a Thursday night post on X to his 1.1 million followers. \u201cWhile workers are on strike, I won\u2019t be buying any Starbucks, and I\u2019m asking you to join us.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n Starbucks and Mamdani\u2019s campaign did not immediately respond to The Post\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n Starbucks workers in more than 25 US cities went on strike Thursday during \u201cRed Cup Day,\u201d when employees hand out free holiday-themed cups to customers<\/a>. It\u2019s typically a major sales day for the java giant every year.<\/p>\n Starbucks said about 99.9% of its stores remained open.<\/p>\n Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract. <\/p>\n While workers are on strike, I won\u2019t be buying any Starbucks, and I\u2019m asking you to join us. <\/p>\n Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee. https:\/\/t.co\/Cw0WMf2hVW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Starbucks Workers United, which represents about 9,000 of the chain\u2019s 200,000-plus baristas, has accused Starbucks of being unwilling to negotiate<\/a>. The union warned the strikes could expand if there is no progress in reaching a fair contract.<\/p>\n The company has accused the union of putting forth unreasonable contract proposals, arguing it already offers \u201cthe best job in retail\u201d with an average pay of $19 an hour \u2013 a salary worth more than $30 an hour when benefits are included, Starbucks claims.<\/p>\n The current strike is the fourth such action the union has organized against Starbucks since 2023, and the third since Brian Niccol took over the chain in 2024.<\/p>\n Starbucks workers in more than 25 US cities went on strike Thursday during \u201cRed Cup Day.\u201d Michael Nigro<\/p>\n Talks seemed promising last February, but they quickly broke down amid mutual recriminations just a few months later.<\/p>\n Workers United said it has filed more than 1,000 charges against Starbucks for alleged unfair labor practices to the National Labor Relations Board.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharlie Gasparino has his finger on the pulse of where business, politics and finance meet\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The labor board itself has accused Starbucks of anti-union tactics, like closing stores and firing workers who join strikes. The company has denied those claims.<\/p>\n Thursday was not the first time union workers have targeted \u201cRed Cup Day\u201d during contract negotiations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Starbucks Workers United has accused Starbucks of being unwilling to negotiate. Michael Nigro<\/p>\n Last year, workers went on strike during the holiday-themed event and caused about 60 stores to temporarily close, the company said.<\/p>\n Tensions have bubbled up as workers have pushed back on some of Niccol\u2019s turnaround efforts.<\/p>\n Soon after he took the helm, he announced plans to buy 200,000 Sharpies and have workers doodle friendly messages on coffee cups.\u00a0<\/p>\n But workers lambasted the doodle policy, claiming it takes up too much time and can be misinterpreted by customers as flirting.<\/p>\n Starbucks hands out free holiday-themed cups on Red Cup Day. Starbucks<\/p>\n Starbucks has also faced backlash after it recently closed hundreds of stores around the country, including 59 unionized locations, on a few days\u2019 notice.<\/p>\n The closures targeted dozens of New York City Starbucks, sparking chaos for employees, city officials and landlords<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t