DC Restaurant Groups Denounce 'Baseless' Boycott Threat Allegedly Supported by AOC and Sanders
Hospitality union urges Democrats to boycott D.C. eateries over alleged union busting actions.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have announced a boycott of six high-profile Washington, D.C., restaurants amid escalating labor disputes involving workers and management at two major restaurant groups. The targeted eateries, popular among the city’s political elite, include STARR Restaurants’ Le Diplomate, The Occidental, and Osteria Mozza, as well as Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s Rasika, Modena, and Bombay Club.
The boycott, spearheaded by hospitality workers’ union Local 25, comes in response to what union organizers allege are ongoing union-busting practices at both STARR and Knightsbridge establishments. According to a flyer circulated by the union, "hundreds of workers at some of D.C.’s most prominent and lucrative restaurants – including Le Diplomate and Rasika – have been organizing to join UNITE HERE Local 25," but have encountered resistance from their employers.
High-profile Democratic lawmakers such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are reported to be among the boycott’s supporters. The union has called on D.C. residents, visitors, and the broader public to avoid eating, meeting, or drinking at the six named locations until the dispute is resolved.
STARR Restaurants responded forcefully to the boycott efforts, labeling them as "baseless" and stating that "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 company spokesperson emphasized concerns for the staff, adding, "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."
The owner of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group took a different approach, expressing skepticism about the lawmakers’ involvement in the boycott effort and questioning whether all the signatories understood what they were endorsing. Knightsbridge, whose clientele has historically included influential figures from across the political spectrum, declined further comment on the matter.
Le Diplomate has long been a favorite dining destination for U.S. presidents, with former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden both spotted there in recent years. Earlier this year, Obama and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were seen dining at Osteria Mozza, highlighting the restaurants’ continued prominence among high-level figures in business and government.
As the boycott gains momentum, D.C.’s renowned culinary scene finds itself at the center of a growing labor rights conflict, one that may have significant implications for both local workers and the political figures who frequent these iconic establishments.
