The McDonald's boycott explained: Who's leading it, what they're demanding, and when it's happening

Time of India

7 days ago

McDonald's faces a boycott led by The People's Union USA. The group cites tax loopholes and high prices as reasons. They also allege poor labor practices and supply chain issues. The boycott highlights concerns over DEI policy changes. Previous boycotts had varied success. The action puts McDonald's in the middle of a culture war.
The McDonald's boycott is called by the activist group, The People's Union USA, which launches a fresh protest as part of a broader campaign targeting major corporations. (Representative Image)
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Why Is McDonald's Being Boycotted?
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Who Is Behind the Boycott?
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Will It Have an Impact?
McDonald's is the latest major corporation facing a boycott, as a growing consumer-led protest movement takes aim at the fast-food giant over issues ranging from tax avoidance and labor practices to performative diversity efforts. The protest, running from June 24 to June 30, is organized by The People's Union USA, a group known for its recent economic 'blackouts' against Amazon, Walmart Target , and General Mills.The group's founder, John Schwarz , laid out five reasons for the McDonald's boycott in a recent Instagram post, accusing the company of corporate hypocrisy and exploitation.The group says its mission is to 'expose corruption and exploitation' and to 'hold corporations accountable through organized economic action.'Schwarz claims McDonald's pays less in taxes than its own minimum wage workers by exploiting loopholes and offshore tax havens.The company has raised menu prices in recent years, despite posting record profits, which Schwarz says amounts to profiteering at the expense of ordinary customers.The group also alleges that McDonald's has used franchise structures to avoid direct accountability for worker conditions and has lobbied against wage hikes and union protections.The chain's global supply chain, according to the group, is linked to deforestation, labor abuse, and unsustainable agriculture practices.While the company promotes DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in advertising, Schwarz accuses McDonald's of donating to political causes and candidates that undermine equity and labor rights.DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) refers to workplace and supplier policies that aim to support underrepresented communities. McDonald's had previously committed to such goals, including efforts to diversify leadership and supplier networks.However, in early 2025, the company began to scale back its DEI initiatives , dropping leadership diversity targets and ending some supplier programs.On the right, DEI has become a flashpoint in the culture wars, especially after Donald Trump's return to the presidency in 2025, when he issued executive orders to eliminate 'illegal DEI' in both government and corporate sectors.This boycott is spearheaded by The People's Union USA, a populist watchdog organization.Since February, the organization has called for boycotts of other major brands and is planning future actions against Starbucks, Home Depot, and Lowe's.That remains unclear. Previous boycotts have had mixed results. Some caused temporary dips in sales or stock price, while others had little effect.But what's clear is that the battle over DEI is now a central issue in America's culture war, and major brands like McDonald's are caught in the middle.