'No contract, no coffee': Zohran Mamdani backs 1,000 Starbucks baristas on strike, urges public not to buy

Zohran Mamdani added that Starbucks employees are engaged in an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike, fighting for a fair contract.

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced his support for a strike by Starbucks baristas and urged the public to boycott the chain in solidarity. The workers, organised under Starbucks Workers United, have launched an open-ended strike across more than 40 US cities.

The strike began on Red Cup Day, Starbucks’ annual holiday promotion when customers receive free reusable red cups—a day the union has dubbed part of its "Red Cup Rebellion".

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for a boycott. “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,” he wrote.

He added that Starbucks employees are engaged in an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike, fighting for a fair contract. According to Mamdani, this stance aligns with his long-standing support for labour rights; he has said the workers deserve better wages and working conditions. At a rally earlier, he also criticised Starbucks’ leadership, pointing to CEO Brian Niccol’s substantial compensation amid what he described as stagnant conditions for workers.

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

Starbucks has acknowledged the strike but has said the disruption remains limited. According to the company, fewer than 1 per cent of its locations are unionised, so the immediate business impact is modest. A company spokesperson also told media outlets that Red Cup Day was proceeding successfully and that sales were on track to exceed expectations.

The union has framed the walkout as a push for meaningful negotiation. They cite stalled contract talks, allegations of widespread unfair labour practices, and demands for stable scheduling, better pay, and more predictable hours. According to Reuters, the union has filed over 1,000 unfair labour practice charges with the US National Labor Relations Board.

Starbucks, for its part, has claimed it offers strong compensation and benefits, emphasising that many of its workers already earn relatively high hourly wages.

Mamdani’s call to action sparked a range of responses on social media. On Reddit, several users voiced support for his decision.