‘No Contract, No Coffee’: Zohran Mamdani Backs US Starbucks Workers’ Nationwide Protest

Last Updated:November 15, 2025, 9:20 PM IST

Mamdani said he would not purchase Starbucks products while baristas across the US remain on strike over alleged unfair labour practices

For Mamdani, the boycott call fulfilled a commitment he made long before winning the mayoralty.

New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has publicly declared his support for striking Starbucks workers and urged Americans to join a nationwide boycott of the coffee chain.

Posting on X on Friday, Mamdani said he would not purchase Starbucks products while baristas across the United States remain on strike over alleged unfair labour practices.

“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,” he wrote. “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.”

His message accompanied a repost from Starbucks Workers United, which announced on November 13 that thousands of employees had begun what they described as potentially the “biggest and longest” unfair labour practices strike in the company’s history.

The union urged customers to avoid Starbucks entirely until management returns to the bargaining table.

“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!” the post had stated.

Nearly 10,000 baristas represented by the union are participating in the walkout. More than 1,000 workers across 65 stores walked off the job on Thursday, deliberately coordinating the action with Red Cup Day — one of Starbucks’ busiest promotional events. Stores in at least 45 cities were expected to be affected across the country.

For Mamdani, the boycott call fulfilled a commitment he made long before winning the mayoralty. In October, he joined striking workers outside a Manhattan Starbucks, demanding better pay, secure hours and improved working conditions.

Criticising CEO Brian Niccol’s reported $96 million earnings last year, Mamdani argued that workers were only asking for “the bare minimum” needed to live with dignity.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

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