Top DC restaurants reject boycott led by Dem lawmakers, call claims baseless and harmful to non-union workers.

Boycott Over Union Dispute Draws Industry Backlash

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are reportedly supporting a boycott of six prominent Washington, D.C., restaurants due to ongoing labor disputes involving two major restaurant groups. The effort, coordinated by Local 25—a hospitality workers’ union—has sparked strong backlash from the targeted businesses.

According to reports, the boycott focuses on establishments owned by STARR Restaurants and Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, both of which operate some of the city’s most iconic and politically frequented dining venues. These include Le Diplomate, Osteria Mozza, and The Occidental, owned by STARR, as well as Rasika, Modena, and Bombay Club, managed by Knightsbridge.

A spokesperson for STARR Restaurants described the boycott as “baseless,” claiming that the majority of staff at Le Diplomate—one of the city's most elite dining locations—have expressed no desire for union representation. “A boycott of any kind can result in lost hours, wages, and tips that our hardworking employees rely upon,” the spokesperson stated. “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 criticized the lawmakers directly, questioning whether those endorsing the boycott were fully aware of what they were supporting. “How many of these congress members even know themselves that they're signing?” he reportedly asked.

While Knightsbridge declined further comment, their restaurants are also being targeted by picketing efforts from Local 25, which accuses both companies of engaging in anti-union activities. Flyers obtained by reporters assert that “hundreds of workers” at these upscale restaurants have been organizing to join the union but have faced resistance from management.

Local 25 has organized informational picket lines at the affected venues, calling on customers to avoid dining, meeting, or drinking at the listed restaurants. The flyer names Le Diplomate, Rasika, and others as locations to boycott in solidarity with the workers’ demands for unionization.

Political heavyweights are said to be among those backing the campaign. Lawmakers such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have reportedly endorsed the initiative, adding political weight to the union’s demands.

Despite the political pressure, restaurant owners argue that the boycott does more harm than good, particularly to non-union employees who rely on steady business for income. The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between labor advocates and business owners over union representation and workers’ rights in the high-stakes hospitality industry.

As public pressure mounts and demonstrations continue, it remains to be seen whether the campaign will achieve its goal of union recognition—or lead to greater division between employees, employers, and the lawmakers standing behind them.