Socialist New York City (NYC) Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has decided to interfere in the free market by urging his social media followers to boycott Starbucks.
Why? To back Starbucks Workers United, a union that on Thursday announced an open-ended strike that it’s dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion” in reference to Red Cup Day, when customers can pick up a free holiday cup from their local Starbucks.
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 pic.twitter.com/zFLACFXnwJ
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) November 13, 2025
“Over one thousand union baristas launched a ‘Red Cup Rebellion’ unfair labor practice strike Thursday protesting Starbucks’ historic union busting and failure to finalize a fair union contract,” the union announced in a press release.
“The open-ended strike begins with 65 stores across 40+ cities and comes after six months of Starbucks refusing to offer new proposals to address workers’ demands for better staffing, higher pay, and resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges,” the press release continued.
Mamdani, a veritable communist, immediately jumped on board.
“Starbucks workers across the country are on an Unfair Labor Practices strike, fighting for a fair contract,” he tweeted late Thursday.
“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 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. https://t.co/Cw0WMf2hVW
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 14, 2025
Starbucks reportedly isn’t fazed by the boycott.
“Despite Workers United’s efforts to cause disruption, more than 99% of our coffeehouses remain open and our partners delivered the strongest Reusable Red Cup Day in company history, building on last Thursday’s holiday launch, which was the biggest sales day ever for the company,” a spokesperson told Business Insider.
Business Insider, meanwhile, noted that “Mamdani lending support to the striking baristas represents an early indication of how he may use the bully pulpit of his office as mayor of New York City.”
Indeed. Though given that he’s a veritable communist, his decision to pressure a company to do his will is no surprise.
Also not a surprise is the flood of critics who rushed to lecture Mamdani about the realities of business after he posted his boycott tweet.
Look:
Have you ever heard of robots? Entry level jobs should be careful what they wish for.
— (Formerly) Angry Mama Bear (@nomoreangrymama) November 15, 2025
You mean not buying the overpriced over-roaster coffee I’m already not buying? I’ll be happy to install the robots that will replace them
— Kev the more science guy than Bill Nye (@kevin_batt10) November 14, 2025
Careful Zohran, your communism is showing. Exactly how much is a fair wage for slinging coffee? Sounds like another great area of opportunity for automation.
— Angry Boomer (@fjcostasanrrco1) November 14, 2025
It’s a job for people in school, not a career. With as much money as Starbucks has you don’t think they’ll go to robots as soon as they can? I’m not bashing either I’m just curious how people think this will play out in the long run.
— kayso n chips (@kaysopapi) November 14, 2025
You idiots do know that your left wing billionaire benefactors George and Alex Soros are heavily invested in AI – the very thing that will eventually replace all these union baristas with automation- right????https://t.co/BlW21IXsS5
— TheInfidel (@InfidelJustan) November 15, 2025
Common themes heard from critics were “automation” and “robots,” with the general idea being that Starbucks will eventually just replace its striking baristas with automated robots.
It’s a brutal, but oftentimes self-inflicted cycle. Workers demand unreasonable wages and benefits, so companies invest in automation to replace said workers.
The end result is always the same: The company continues to prosper, while the now-unemployed workers struggle even harder than before just to survive …
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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