Scoop: Democrats vow to boycott popular D.C. restaurants

• Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told Axios: "We can have big policy debates, but we also have to show the American people some concrete examples."
• "If a bunch of workers are organizing across multiple restaurants here in D.C., it will get attention. Absolutely," Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told Axios.

Driving the news: More than 50 House and Senate Democrats have signed onto Unite Here Local 25's pledge to avoid six of D.C.'s buzziest restaurants.

• In addition to Le Diplomate, they include Osteria Mozza and The Occidental, all owned by prolific East Coast restaurateur and Democratic donor Stephen Starr.
• There's also Rasika, Modena and Bombay Club — classics of the power dining scene in Washington, founded by chef Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group.

Between the lines: Political groups and candidates have spent thousands of dollars at those spots over the past year, federal campaign records show.

• Former President Obama and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made headlines when they dined at Osteria Mozza in January.
• Then-President Biden was a repeat customer at Le Diplomate during his presidency.

State of play: Unite Here Local 25 says the boycott is necessary because "workers have endured months of union busting." Both restaurant groups deny those claims and accuse the union of being heavyhanded.

• Unite Here is continuing its organizing at all six establishments, though there are currently no unionization elections scheduled.
• "Workers are calling for D.C. customers to boycott these restaurants, asking the public not to eat, meet or drink at these locations," says a copy of the pledge provided to Axios.

Zoom in: Among the signers are some of Democrats' top fundraisers and biggest names, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

• Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are also on the list.
• It isn't just progressives or safe-district Democrats either: Landsman and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) both signed on despite being moderates in competitive seats, as did Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.)

What they're saying: "With these restaurants that are frequented so much by members of Congress, our boycott of fundraisers and visiting could have a real impact — could really help these workers," said Casar.

• He added: "This is our opportunity when we're here in Washington, D.C. to not just go vote in the Capitol but actually go out in the community and make a difference."

• Landsman said his advice to the restaurants is to "avoid the negative publicity, and sit down with them."
• "We can say that all members on the list are personally boycotting," Benjy Cannon, a spokesperson for the union, told Axios in a message. "Many of them have been meeting personally with STARR and Knightsbridge workers all year."

The other side: "Local 25's call for a boycott is baseless," Starr restaurants said in a statement. "A boycott of any kind can result in lost hours, wages, and tips that hardworking employees rely upon."

• "It is unfortunate that an organization that claims to want to represent employees would call for an action that would harm them."
• "We respect our employees wishes," Bajaj said. "How many of these congress members even know themselves that they're signing?"

Zoom out: Starr's restaurant group has accused Unite Here Local 25 of overly aggressive tactics.

• That includes union reps showing up with petitions outside employees' homes, leading one bartender to sign it even though she planned to vote against a union, as Eater reported in February.
• Francisco López, a Le Diplomate server of five years, told Axios some employees are holding counter protests to the union.
• Bajaj told Axios there haven't been picket lines outside Rasika or his other restaurants in four months.