Christopher Aefre is a member of Metro DC DSA and a solidarity captain within the Labor Working Group.

AS THE SUN SET on Friday, November 7, 2025, the last light of the day found workers, DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) members, UNITE HERE Local 25 members, and community allies gathering in the Union Market District. The air was electric, with the crowd eager to hear reflections and updates from months-long campaigns for union recognition at multiple DC-area restaurants.

In January, supermajorities of restaurant workers at St. Anselm, Pastis, and Le Diplomate demanded voluntary recognition, asserting their right to form a union with UNITE HERE Local 25. All three are part of STARR Restaurants, which is headed by restaurant mogul Stephen Starr. STARR Restaurants is one of the largest restaurant groups in the country, with dozens of restaurants stretching from Miami to Nashville to New York City.

STARR responded to the workers’ demand for recognition with aggressive union-busting tactics. Workers have reported that the company offered raises and promotions in exchange for anti-union campaigning, threatened pro-union members, and hired multiple outside anti-union “persuaders” to campaign daily against the union.

STARR is hardly alone in implementing union-busting tactics to silence the voices of their workers. According to a comprehensive analysis of unfair labor practice (ULP) charges conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, “employers were charged with violating federal law in 41.5% of all NLRB-supervised union elections in 2016 and 2017.” Such violations by employers across the country include illegally firing workers; coercing, threatening, and retaliating against workers for supporting a union; and disciplining, firing, or changing work terms, each occurring in nearly one third of all union election campaigns. Furthermore, the analysis states that “employers were more likely to be charged with violating the law where there were larger bargaining units” with shops that have more than 60 employees. From large corporations like Starbucks to local chains like Compass Coffee, it’s clear that bosses are prepared to fight back against workers organizing to secure better wages, working conditions, and power on the job.

Despite the best efforts of the bosses, workers at St. Anselm stood strong, voting on February 21 to join Local 25. Unfortunately, employees narrowly voted against unionization at Pastis the next week. Not content to leave another election up to the decision of the workers, STARR withdrew the petition it had filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election at Le Diplomate, and was able to get the election, originally scheduled for March 13, canceled. STARR also filed objections to the election at St. Anselm, effectively asking the Trump administration’s NLRB to overturn the will of the workers. 

STARR’s objection to the election at St. Anselm, their interference in the Pastis election, and their cancellation of the election at Le Diplomate have all made clear that STARR does not want their workers to have power. Nevertheless, restaurant workers across the DC area have continued their fight for a fair process to unionize, and they called a rally to ask the community for continued support.

At the November 7th rally, attendees heard from multiple restaurant workers and UNITE HERE Local 25 members and staff about the progress of their campaigns.

Hunter, a worker at the 9:30 Club, one of four DC music venues that announced a union drive on Monday, October 20, drew attention to the fact that these individual fights are part of a greater movement of DC workers standing up to claim their power and improve their standards of living, stating, “the strength shown by the STARR Restaurants workers is inspiring. And you are not alone. Your fight is our fight. Together we will continue to raise the standard for all workers in this city!” Bartenders, service and event staff at these venues have since won voluntary recognition of their union, though many production staff members are still struggling for recognition. 

Juan, a dishwasher at St. Anselm, also spoke, touching on the hypocrisy of STARR Restaurants continuing to expand while the employees who drive profits do not make enough to meet the rising cost of living: “While those of us who prepare the food at St. Anselm struggle to pay rent, STARR Restaurants continues to grow, recently opening new restaurants in Philadelphia and New York.”

After listening to the speakers, over 100 attendees marched through the streets of Union Market. Chanted slogans were heard through the streets: “Stephen Starr, you can’t hide, we have seen your greedy side!” and “The workers united will never be defeated!” The group then formed a picket line in front of El Presidente, another restaurant owned by Stephen Starr in the Union Market District, to call public attention to the fact that workers at El Presidente are not covered by a union contract. For close to an hour, picketers marched in front of the restaurant, chanting “Don’t cross that picket line!” among other slogans. Multiple passers-by cheered on the picketers or honked supportively from their cars.

This is one of many actions led by restaurant workers that have been joined by democratic socialists. DSA members have stood in solidarity with DC restaurant workers since their campaigns launched, joining their fellow workers on the picket line, at rallies, and marches like the one on November 7. Socialists believe that all workers deserve the power to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions; socialists also know that power will never be won without workers organizing and applying sustained pressure on the capitalist class.

The fight that workers are in right now is not limited to three STARR restaurants, or even the DC restaurant scene as a whole. The working class is under attack from the fascists in power and their billionaire and business allies. Now is the time for the working class — waiters and government workers, cooks and non-profit employees, dishwashers and hospitality workers — to unite and fight for their rights. The time is now to join workers on the picket line, in the streets, and everywhere else the class struggle is waged!