Charges are based on three months of anti-union behavior by the company, culminating in its unilateral decision to close Kim’s without bargaining

Minneapolis – Today UNITE HERE Local 17 filed federal unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against Kim’s and Vestalia Hospitality, the restaurant group behind the now-closed Kim’s as well as Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola, and Hello Pizza.

Kim’s is required by law to negotiate about matters related to the closure with its unionized staff. Yet, Kim’s first closed its Bronto Bar and then the entire restaurant suddenly and without giving the workers an opportunity to bargain about the decisions.

Kim’s cited “ongoing financial losses” as the reason for closure but the company refused to fulfill UNITE HERE Local 17’s request for financial information to back up the claim. The company similarly refused the union’s request for other information regarding the decision to close and future plans for the Kim’s restaurant space.

The ULP charges also include issues back to the election period when Ann Kim and Vestalia management repeatedly expressed their anti-union position within and outside the workplace. 

Despite the attempted union-busting by the employer, Kim’s workers stood firm and won their union election by a wide margin, all while encouraging the public to come to the restaurant and show their support as customers. Workers wanted the restaurant to succeed for everyone and were eager to work on solutions to the restaurant’s challenges at the bargaining table. They were never given the chance.

Kim’s still has not agreed to pay full PTO balances for all Kim’s workers or to prioritize them for jobs as positions open at other Vestalia locations.

“Restaurants can’t just discard their workers after they stand up and fight for their rights. Restaurant workers deserve a hell of a lot better than the way we’ve seen them treated and heard them talked about this summer. There needs to be accountability,” said Sheigh Freeberg, Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 17.

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UNITE HERE Local 17 is Minnesota’s hospitality workers’ union, representing over 6,000 workers in hotels, airport restaurants, sports stadiums, craft beverage makers, university cafeterias, and more.