Casa Bonita accused of unfair labor practices by the NLRB
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Casa Bonita faces an NLRB hearing in December. Casa Bonita
The National Labor Relations Board has accused Denver-based Mexican restaurant Casa Bonita of unfair labor practices in an official complaint, and the restaurant’s management now faces a hearing in December.
The NLRB issued a complaint against Casa Bonita for refusing to bargain in good faith with unionized employees, as well as discrimination against staff that voted to join the Actors’ Equity Association union.
Casa Bonita was once part of a small chain of over-the-top themed restaurants colloquially known as the “Disneyland of Mexican restaurants.” The restaurant with the Pepto Bismol-pink exterior, indoor waterfalls, and a staff of entertainers like cliff divers and puppeteers struggled to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Casa Bonita’s previous owners Summit Family Restaurants filed for bankruptcy. During bankruptcy proceedings, the restaurant chain — now down to just one location — was purchased by the creators of “South Park,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who vowed to revive the kitschy tourist attraction with a $40 million renovation.
But since being sold, Casa Bonita’s staff — largely comprised of entertainers represented by Actors’ Equity Association — has clashed with management. The performers voted to unionize in November 2024 and have been in negotiations with management since.
Last September, the union filed an Unfair Labor Practices charge against Casa Bonita when the restaurant cut worker hours without engaging in collective bargaining. Workers then went on strike last Halloween.
In July, actress Brooke Shields, who is also president of the Actors’ Equity labor organization, visited Casa Bonita, and expressed her support for workers, who were asking for better wages and working conditions in a proposed collective bargaining agreement.
Now the NLRB is moving forward with a hearing based on these accusations.
“This complaint vindicates what the workers have been saying throughout 18 months of bargaining: Casa Bonita would rather play games with their livelihoods than seriously bargain for a fair contract,” Andrea Hoeschen, general counsel for Actors’ Equity Association, said in a statement. “The NLRB’s complaint should be a wakeup call for the employer, but whether or not they choose to do the right thing, we’re in this for the long haul.”
The NLRB’s hearing against Casa Bonita management begins on Monday, Dec. 7, in Denver.
Casa Bonita did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Contact Joanna at [email protected]
