Workers at an unusual restaurant in Denver, owned by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone officially went on strike.
All 57 union workers are divers, magicians, puppeteers and other performers who entertain guests at the kitschy event. Beautiful House eatery in Lakewood, Colorado — went on the picket line Thursday after contract negotiations with restaurant management broke down.
According to the Actors' Equity Association, which represents performers, they fight for better salarysafety measures and other benefits that lead to more “sustainable working conditions.”
“Casa management came to the table today and offered an additional 11 cents on top of their Latest offer of unfair wages and very little protection against future layoffs“Lead bargaining committee member Andrea Hoeschen said Wednesday of the collapse of negotiations that began in April after members voted to unionize last November.
“Despite this insult, the negotiating team responded with serious compromises in an attempt to make a deal. And then Casa Bonita walked away from the table without responding,” Heschen added.
“We know they can pay the wages we ask because they already pay virtually the same wages to waiters and bartenders,” the statement said. “Their insistence on paying artists DOLLARS less per hour reflects a choice and philosophy of devaluing performers.”
The union, known as Casa Bonita United, filed the lawsuit. unfair labor practice charge last month after the restaurant allegedly “cut over 1,000 hours of work from our members' schedules” to host a pop-up Halloween event throughout October.
The union said the move “violated the law requiring management to negotiate with the union over changes to working conditions during ongoing contract negotiations.”
Even Actors' Capital President Brooke Shields appealed to the billionaire owners on behalf of the union.
“It's simple no respect for performers who put their all into making Casa Bonita a one-of-a-kind destination,” the model and actress said in a video posted to Instagram last week.
The strike is expected to last until Saturday, although The diner plans to remain open despite the strike.offering customers a free drink or slot machine ticket as a consolation prize, the Denver Post reported.
Colorado natives Parker and Stone, whose together net worth is estimated at approximately $2.4 billion. — bought and renovated the restaurant in 2021 for $40 million in an attempt to save the pink landmark.
The Mexican-themed establishment, which opened in 1974, was previously featured in a 2003 episode of “South Park.” It was also featured in the 2024 Paramount+ documentary. “Beautiful house, my love!”
Neither has publicly commented on the strike, although a restaurant spokesperson said in a statement to the Denver Post that its management values ”all of our team members and their well-being.”
“As a matter of policy, we do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations,” they said.
