Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders lead a Democrat boycott of six upscale D.C. restaurants while restaurant owners warn the action will hurt the very workers the politicians claim to champion.
Key Takeaways
- Over 50 Democratic lawmakers are boycotting six popular Washington D.C. restaurants in support of unionization efforts, including high-profile Democrats like AOC, Pelosi, and Sanders.
- Restaurant groups STARR and Knightsbridge have condemned the boycott as “baseless,” warning it will harm employees by reducing hours, wages, and tips.
- Targeted establishments include Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, Rasika, Modena, Bombay Club, and The Occidental – all popular dining spots for D.C.’s political elite.
- The boycott is organized by Unite Here Local 25 union, which claims the restaurant owners are engaging in union-busting activities.
- Restaurant managers assert most staff members have no interest in unionization, creating a direct conflict with Democrat claims of worker support.
Democrats Target Popular D.C. Restaurants in Union Showdown
The Democratic Party’s latest attempt to court working-class voters has resulted in more than 50 Democratic lawmakers boycotting some of Washington D.C.’s most prestigious restaurants. Led by progressive firebrands Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the boycott targets six high-end restaurants owned by STARR Restaurants and Knightsbridge Restaurant Group. The restaurants include some of the capital’s most popular dining establishments: Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, Rasika, Modena, Bombay Club, and The Occidental – venues frequently patronized by the political elite.
The boycott, organized by the labor union Unite Here Local 25, represents over 7,500 hospitality workers in the D.C. area. The union claims these restaurant groups are engaging in “union-busting” activities and preventing workers from organizing. The pledge signed by Democratic lawmakers explicitly calls for the public to avoid eating, meeting, or drinking at these establishments, potentially causing significant economic harm to the businesses and their employees.
Restaurant Owners Push Back Against “Baseless” Claims
Restaurant owners have responded forcefully to what they characterize as unfounded accusations. STARR Restaurants issued a strong rebuke of the boycott, arguing that it would primarily harm the very employees Democrats claim to be protecting. The company maintains that most employees at their establishments have shown no interest in unionization, contradicting the fundamental premise of the boycott. This raises serious questions about whether Democratic lawmakers have accurately assessed worker sentiment before launching their campaign.
“To the best of our knowledge, a majority of Le Diplomate employees have no interest in engaging in that process nor in being represented by a union. A boycott of any kind can result in lost hours, wages, and tips that our hardworking employees rely upon. It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to want to represent the employees of Le Diplomate would call for an action that would harm them,” stated a STARR representative
The owner of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group questioned whether lawmakers even understood what they were signing up for, suggesting this might be more about political theater than genuine worker advocacy. This boycott exemplifies the growing disconnect between Democrat politicians’ claims of supporting working Americans while taking actions that could directly threaten their livelihoods. Restaurant staff now face potential income reductions due to politically motivated actions from the same politicians who claim to champion worker rights.
Political Posturing at Workers’ Expense
This boycott appears to be part of a broader Democrat strategy to reclaim support from working-class voters who overwhelmingly supported President Trump in the 2024 election. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has previously admitted the party faces “a messaging problem and a brand problem” rather than a policy issue. This suggests the restaurant boycott may be more about image rehabilitation than substantive worker advocacy – a political calculation that could backfire by harming the very demographic Democrats are trying to win over.
“Workers are calling for D.C. customers to boycott these restaurants, asking the public not to eat, meet or drink at these locations,” stated the pledge
The boycott highlights a fundamental contradiction in the Democratic approach to labor issues. While claiming to support workers’ rights, their actions could directly reduce worker income through decreased business, lower tips, and potentially even job losses. This disconnect between stated values and practical impacts reveals why working-class Americans have increasingly turned away from Democrat policies that often harm rather than help their economic interests. As restaurant workers face potential income reductions due to this political stunt, voters may further question Democrat claims of being the party that truly represents working people.
