DENVER (KDVR) — The Actors’ Equity Association has filed a complaint against Casa Bonita over claims the Lakewood restaurant is unlawfully eliminating its “beloved” roaming characters Black Bart, Captain Isabella, Amazon Ani and the Sheriff.
The AEA, which represents entertainers at Casa Bonita, said Thursday that it filed the complaint after the restaurant informed itself and Casa Bonita United of the “imminent elimination” of the characters.
“This is a foolish, retaliatory and downright illegal decision that both harms the workers who make Casa Bonita special and deprives patrons of the magic of the Casa Bonita experience,” said Andrea Hoeschen, AEA’s assistant executive director and general counsel, in a statement.
Casa Bonita, in response to the complaint, told FOX31 in a statement that it is not permanently eliminating the characters, but, rather, is simply putting them on pause during its first Halloween pop-up, “Casa BOOnita.”
“Reports claiming that Casa Bonita is permanently eliminating our beloved character performers are completely false. We’re temporarily pausing current character appearances from September 30 through November 2 during our first Halloween pop-up – Casa BOOnita – to avoid confusion with guests in costumes. Characters, both old and new, play an important role in Casa Bonita history and will continue to be part of the iconic experience,” the restaurant said.
Hoeschen, meanwhile, said Casa Bonita failed to engage in bargaining, “as required by the National Labor Relations Act,” before it “unilaterally eliminated over 1,000 hours of available shifts for unionized employees.”
“As such, Actors’ Equity Association has filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the National Labor Relations Board,” Hoeschen said.
Hoeschen said AEA is also calling on Casa Bonita management to “reverse their unlawful course of action immediately” and to restore the positions of Black Bart, Captain Isabella, Amazon Ani and the Sheriff while also “bargaining in good faith with the union as required by law.”
Both onstage and backstage workers at Casa Bonita voted unanimously to unionize with the AEA and IATSE Local 7 last year. The entertainment workers said at the time that they were unionizing over concerns ranging from “insufficient training to abusive patrons emboldened by alcohol.”
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
