DC elite restaurants face boycott from Democrat lawmakers amid union organizing
The ongoing labor disputes between two restaurant groups in Washington, D.C., have sparked a boycott by “dozens” of Democratic lawmakers, as reported by Axios. The boycott targets six high-end restaurants in the capital city, with the lawmakers showing solidarity with the workers who are facing challenges with the two restaurant groups involved.
One of the restaurant groups, STARR, which owns popular establishments like Osteria Mozza, The Occidental, and Le Diplomate, has refuted the claims made by the boycott organizers. A representative from STARR stated that the majority of Le Diplomate employees are not interested in union representation and that the boycott could harm the hardworking employees who rely on their wages and tips.
On the other hand, the owner of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, which operates Rasika, Modena, and Bombay Club, criticized the lawmakers for their involvement in the boycott. He questioned whether the congress members were fully aware of the implications of their actions.
Former President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden have been known to frequent Le Diplomate and other restaurants owned by these groups. The boycott, organized by Local 25, a hospitality workers’ union, aims to support workers who have been facing union-busting tactics from the restaurant groups.
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, and Sen. Bernie Sanders are reported to be among the lawmakers supporting the boycott. The movement is gaining momentum, with workers calling on the public to refrain from patronizing the boycotted restaurants.
As the dispute continues, it remains to be seen how the restaurant groups will respond to the boycott and whether the lawmakers’ actions will have a lasting impact on the labor conditions in these establishments. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
