Minneapolis – Workers are angry at the disrespect demonstrated by the sudden and unilateral closure of Kim’s as of August 26, even sooner than the August 30 date the company initially set. The closure was enacted without any attempt by the company to bargain with workers about how to improve the restaurant. The company has thus far rejected key demands of the workers related to addressing the closure’s affect on them.

On August 22, during the first official bargaining session between Kim’s workers and management at Vestalia headquarters, the company unilaterally announced they would close Kim’s effective August 30. Workers submitted a proposal regarding pay outs and hiring priority for other Vestalia restaurants to the company the next day and requested a response by August 27. On August 27, the company did not respond to the proposal but did shock employees by notifying them that the previous night, August 26, had been the last night of service.

Kim’s is required by law to negotiate about matters related to the closure with its unionized staff. Kim’s workers have included priority hiring for positions at Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola and Hello Pizza in their demands. In a counter-proposal sent today, the company rejected the hiring demands and offered compensation that does not even guarantee a full payout of PTO balances.

“From asking for recognition to the election period and now the closure, we’ve had to fight like hell for the bare minimum from Ann Kim and Vestalia. It’s beyond disrespectful, it’s disgusting,” said Alice Kolder, Kim’s back of house supervisor. “Why did the company close Kim’s before we’d even had a chance to share our bargaining proposals? Why won’t they commit to basic decency to the people Ann Kim called ‘family’? We’re committed, talented workers. If the closure isn’t about busting the union or punishing union supporters, there’s no excuse not to hire us at Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola, or Hello Pizza or put us on preferential hiring lists until spots open up.”

There are currently positions open at Young Joni and posted on Vestalia’s website as of this morning.

The Kim’s closure comes after Vestalia Hospitality management, including Ann Kim, repeatedly expressed opposition to the workers’ unionization efforts this summer. Workers at Kim’s voted to unionize on June 27.

“Ann Kim and Vestalia Hospitality waged a relentless anti-union campaign. They said they would respect the election results. Now their sudden announcement of closing Kim’s before we even began bargaining has left dozens of families scrambling to make ends meet,” said Lev Simon, Kim’s bartender. “So much for her slogan, ‘fuck fear.’ She can’t even look us in the eye to say she’s stripping away our livelihoods? We just got a message through our scheduling app about the new closing date. It’s sickening.”

In addition to hiring priority for jobs as they open at Young Joni, Pizzeria Lola and Hello Pizza and at any future restaurant Vestalia may open in the Kim’s space, workers are also calling for payment of PTO and sick leave balances, extension of healthcare through October, and two weeks’ pay.

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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.