New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani asked New Yorkers on Friday to boycott Starbucks after more than a thousand baristas across the US went on strike. He said customers should support workers until they win a fair contract.
On X, Mamdani posted, “Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike… No contract, no coffee.” He joined workers calling for better wages, proper staffing, and action on hundreds of unfair labour practice complaints.
Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 14, 2025
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
Mamdani Shows Solidarity Online
Mamdani responded to a message from Starbucks Workers United, saying he would stay away from the chain during the strike and encouraged others to follow his lead.
“While workers are on strike, I won’t be buying any Starbucks, and I’m asking you to join us,” he wrote. He added, “Together, we can send a powerful message: No contract, no coffee.”
Union Declares an Open-Ended National Strike
Starbucks Workers United announced on X that workers nationwide had launched an Unfair Labour Practices (ULP) strike. The union warned that this could become the largest and longest strike in Starbucks’ history.
Its message read: “As of today, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE… Say No Contract No Coffee with us: DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike!”
Red Cup Rebellion Disrupts a Key Business Day
The walkout, called the “Red Cup Rebellion,” was timed with Starbucks’ popular Red Cup Day — one of its busiest annual events, when customers receive a free reusable holiday cup.
Baristas walked out of stores in more than 25 cities, including New York, Dallas, Seattle, Ohio, Minneapolis and Philadelphia. The strike turned the company’s high-traffic promotional day into a major protest moment.
Workers Cite Labour Law Violations
The union has accused Starbucks of more than 400 labour law violations, pointing to rulings from Administrative Law Judges at the National Labor Relations Board. It represents about 9,000 workers and says the strike could expand if the company continues to avoid negotiations.
In another post, the union repeated, “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… DON’T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike!”
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.
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) November 13, 2025
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX pic.twitter.com/zFLACFXnwJ
Strike Has No End Date
The walkout is open-ended, and more stores could join if talks remain stalled. This is the union’s fourth strike since 2023 and the third since CEO Brian Niccol took charge in 2024.
Last year’s Red Cup Day strike forced around 60 stores to shut temporarily. Starbucks has also faced criticism for closing hundreds of outlets in recent years, including 59 stores where workers had unionised.