Latest news with #PeoplesUnionUSA
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
The ‘economic blackout' movement now wants you to boycott McDonald's, starting today
A grassroots movement is calling on the boycott of McDonald's for the next week. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) NEW YORK — McDonald's is the latest target of a grassroots 'economic blackout' campaign that has previously targeted other major companies with mixed success. The People's Union USA, led by John Schwarz, is now calling on people to boycott McDonald's beginning Tuesday through next Monday, explaining in an Instagram post that he's demanding 'fair taxes, an end to price gouging, real equality, and corporate accountability.' 'This is a show of strength, solidarity and people powered change,' Schwarz wrote. 'Let them feel it. Let them hear us.' McDonald's did not immediately respond to comment about the boycott. Boycotts are notoriously difficult to organize, and it's not clear that the effort will make a dent in McDonald's bottom line. Nevertheless, the spotlight is shining on McDonald's at a less than ideal time for the company, which recently reported its second consecutive quarter of sales declines. Customers, especially in low- and middle-income brackets, have pulled back their spending amid economic uncertainty. McDonald's has faced backlash from some customers about its prices. The value perception of the chain has dimmed among its cash-conscious customers: The average price of items has soared about 40 per cent since 2019. The company says this is in line with its rising costs. Schwarz didn't immediately respond for comment. His website calls the group 'a grassroots movement dedicated to economic resistance, government accountability, and corporate reform,' adding that the 'goal is to unite Americans against the corruption and greed that has kept us struggling for decades.' Boycott background Schwarz garnered national attention earlier this year when his group called for an 'economic boycott' on Walmart, Target and Amazon for various reasons, including the roll-back of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs. In January, McDonald's ended some of its its specific diversity goals, including requiring its suppliers to commit to certain DEI targets. The chain also stopped participating in external surveys that measure corporate diversity, as well as changed the name of its diversity team to the Global Inclusion Team — a common practice for many other companies that have rolled back diversity pledges. Companies have changed their views on DEI following the reelection of U.S. President Donald Trump, who opposes the efforts, and a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action. Online pressure, legal threats and customer opposition have led many companies, including Walmart, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere and others to make changes to their DEI initiatives. Still, Schwarz's bark might be louder than his bite. A March boycott against Amazon had negligible affect to its bottom line, with the company posting better-than-expected earnings results during that quarter. The 'economic blackout' effort is relatively uncoordinated and nebulous. Experts on consumer boycotts and corporate strategy are dubious that it will make a dent in the bottom lines of the massive companies that it targets, let alone the vast U.S. economy. However, a 40-day boycott against Target led by megachurch pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant, has been more fruitful. Sales fell last quarter, driven in part by customer backlash to Target's reversal on its DEI programs, the company admitted. By Jordan Valinsky, CNN
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Massive 'Boycott' of Popular Fast Food Chain Planned for June 24
A massive "boycott" of a popular American fast food chain is planned for this upcoming Tuesday, June 24. American consumers have planned several different boycotts of popular restaurants and stores thus far in 2025, due to price increases, corporate policies and more. The People's Union USA is among those who have planned an ongoing "Economic Blackout Tour," targeting some of the biggest restaurants and stores in the country. This week, an American fast food giant is set to be added to the list. A massive boycott of McDonald's is being planned for this upcoming Tuesday, June 24. The People's Union USA's founder, John Schwarz, has reportedly planned the boycott. The boycott of McDonald's is being pushed to start on Tuesday, June 24 and run through June 30. The boycotts are being described as a massive grassroots movement, that is "a grassroots movement focused on economic resistance, corporate accountability, and real justice for the working class." While other big chains have been the subject of the boycotts in recent months, the one featuring McDonald's has not been given as much publicity, but that could change starting on June 24, depending on how many people take part. "Economic resistance is working. Target, Walmart and Amazon are all feeling it, talking about it. They are talking about the boycotts. They are talking about The People's Union USA. My friends, we are fighting for these corporations to finally pay their fair share of federal income taxes to alleviate that from the American worker. We are also fighting for these companies to hold manufacturers and themselves to a reasonable profit margin cap and equality across the board," the founder of the movement stated. McDonald's, meanwhile, has been pushing forward with announcements of their own this month. The popular fast food chain released a new Happy Meal in June and also recently announced a big change to its Value Meal. Massive 'Boycott' of Popular Fast Food Chain Planned for June 24 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 22, 2025
Washington Post
27-02-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
What to know about the no-shopping ‘economic blackout' on Feb. 28
A social media campaign has sparked plans for an 'economic blackout' on Friday, one of several boycotts planned by activists intent on sending a message to large corporations at a time when many Americans are struggling to keep up with costs. The initiative calls on consumers to suspend all spending, both online and in-person, for one day. Its organizer, The People's Union USA, bills itself as a nonpartisan, grass-roots movement dedicated to economic resistance. Here's what you need to know about the economic blackout. John Schwarz is the founder of the Peoples Union USA and lives in the Chicago area. The 57-year-year-old meditation teacher said he came up with the idea for a boycott as he was searching for a way to take action in response to the tumultuous start of the Trump administration, which has moved aggressively to shrink the federal government. 'They're dismantling so many things in this country,' said Schwarz, 57. 'If people are going to step in and make a change that benefit the people, it's now.' His posts on Instagram and TikTok — under the handle TheOneCalledJai — quickly went viral. In the span of a few weeks, he has accumulated 255,000 new Instagram followers and more than 100,000 new TikTok followers. The feedback from followers has been 'overwhelming,' he said, from thousands of comments to a GoFundMe that has raised more than $65,000. 'We're all exhausted. We're all tired. Enough is enough,' Schwarz said. 'We can't sit back and watch these people boast about their wealth … and then we're all sitting at home in anxiety and fear, not knowing how we're going to make it 'till the end of the month.' The initiative is a way for consumers to flex their economic power, Schwarz said, by not spending any money for 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday. The point is not to affect the stock market, he told The Washington Post, but to get 'corporations to at least pause and stop and notice.' The effort comes at a time when many consumers are feeling uneasy about the economy. Consumer sentiment fell in February, according to the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, amid fears that new tariffs could worsen inflation. Americans now expect prices to rise another 4.3 percent in the coming year, a full percentage point higher than they did in January. That is more than double the Federal Reserve's 2 percent inflation goal and higher than January's 3 percent reading. 'We are the economy. We are the workforce,' Schwarz said. 'They benefit only because we get up every day and do what we do. If we stop, they have nothing, and it's time for them to accept that truth.' Don't spend any money on Friday, the group's website says. That includes no shopping online, ordering from restaurant chains or filling up at the gas station. If you do need to buy something, shop local. And if you can, take the day off from work. 'This is about solidarity and sending a clear message: We have the power,' according to the website. It's unclear how impactful such movements can be on a company's bottom line. Though there is precedent: For example, Target saw sales tumble in 2023 after its Pride Month collection got caught in the crossfire of the culture wars. Americus Reed, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, noted that protesting movements and collective organizing 'takes time,' especially as consumers deal with 'the normal pressures of life.' It's also difficult to parse which online campaigns simply amount to virtue signaling — or 'moral peacocking' — or actually motivate consumers to commit, he said. 'The ultimate test is: Are you willing to inconvenience yourself for your ideological point of view and to protest against something?' said Reed, who studies how consumers' identities and values influence their spending decisions. 'And for most people, the answer is no, especially if they can't buy eggs and yogurt, they're worried about other things.' The People's Union USA website lists boycotts throughout the spring, including:
