Fed up with McDonald’s? Customers Plan Historic Boycott

The golden arches have lost some of their shine. McDonald’s is facing headwinds after a period marked by declining sales, corporate criticism—and now: a sweeping boycott. The fast-food giant has already seen a drop in customer visits to its U.S. locations. In the first quarter of 2025, U.S. comparable sales declined by 3.6 percent year-over-year, while operating income fell by 3 percent. Data from Placer.ai reveals that customer traffic dropped by 2.6 percent during the same period.

A challenging time for the QSR industry

During an earnings call on May 1, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski explained the downturn: “We entered 2025 knowing that it would be a challenging time for the QSR industry due to macroeconomic uncertainty and pressures weighing on the consumer.” He added that “geopolitical tensions added to the economic uncertainty and dampened consumer sentiment more than we expected.” Now, the company must brace for another hit: a consumer-organized boycott by The People’s Union USA, the same group that has previously targeted Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The movement is calling for a full McDonald’s boycott from June 24 to June 30—and they’ve listed five hard-hitting accusations.

The worst offenders of price gouging

The group’s founder, John Schwarz, claims that McDonald’s pays “less in taxes than the people serving their food” by exploiting offshore tax havens. He also describes the chain as “one of the worst offenders of price gouging,” criticizing sharp price increases despite record profits.

Further allegations include a “long history of anti-union tactics,” supply chain connections to “deforestation, poor labor conditions, and unsustainable agricultural practices,” and accusations of hypocrisy when it comes to diversity messaging: “While McDonald’s runs DEI-focused ads, their political donations and lobbying often support candidates and legislation that undermine equity.”

With the boycott, The People’s Union aims to “expose corruption and exploitation” and pressure multinational corporations through economic disruption.

For McDonald’s, this week might be more than just another public relations challenge. It could become a symbol of a growing consumer movement that refuses to be ignored.

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