BREAKING: Outraged Without A Deal To Protect Union Jobs, Original Pantry Cafe Workers Vow to Keep Fighting Ahead of Sunday Closure Threat by Riordan Trust

Trust’s Decision to Close Undermines Democratic Process to Negotiate a Fair Deal, say Workers

Los Angeles: Last night, the Original Pantry workers and union representing them, UNITE HERE Local 11, met with The Richard J. Riordan Trust, who since Mr. Riordan’s passing in 2023, has assumed control of the historic restaurant.

The Richard J. Riordan Trust remains set on its intention that the restaurant be closed on Sunday March 2nd at 5pm. The Pantry is demanding that, in order to avoid the closure and loss of workers’ jobs, workers must give up their demand for job security and continued union representation if the restaurant changes hands.

It is a shame not only to Los Angeles and the millions of customers and families this restaurant has served that the Trust refuses to save this place and protect the jobs of the workers who have given their lives.

Before negotiations hundreds of community members, neighbors and organizations like UTLA, ACCE, CLUE, California Poor Peoples Campaign, Catholic Worker Center, DSA Los Angeles, LAANE, SEIU, and Councilmember Curren Price showed up to show support for the workers and let the Trust know they back the workers and their calls for justice. Over a hundred letters of support by customers were delivered to the representatives of the Trust during negotiations. Workers are committed to saving their jobs, keeping their union and the 100-year old institution open. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and the community plans to have an Ash Wednesday action on March 5th between 7am-8am to gather and pray outside the Pantry, workers encourage the community to attend.