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UNITE HERE Local 11

ALICE STANFORD

Meet Alice Stanford, a banquet server at the JW Marriott. Alice moved to LA after high school, but the high cost of living left her sleeping in her car. After securing a union job, she was able to afford a two-bedroom apartment and felt a sense of stability—until the LA fires forced her to evacuate in the middle of the night. Although her building stood, smoke damage left her home uninhabitable, and her landlord refused to fix it. Thanks to her union’s hardship fund, Alice found temporary housing and the union’s legal fund is now fighting to hold her landlord accountable. This is the power of standing together

ARTURO HUESO

Meet Arturo, a worker at the Fairmont Miramar for 31 years. Thanks to his union health insurance, Arturo didn’t have to worry about the cost of cancer treatment after his 2020 diagnosis. So, when his contract expired in 2023, he joined his coworkers on the picket line to fight for that same security and protection. Today, he’s proud of the victories they won—showing why it’s always better in a union.

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Children of out-of-work former employees at The Original Pantry honor Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday blessing of the workers of The Original Pantry

Members of UNITE HERE Local 11 Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice gathered outside The Original Pantry Café on Ash Wednesday to dispense ashes and offer blessings to the Pantry workers on what would otherwise be a normal work shift at the recently-shuttered LA icon. More images

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Children of out-of-work former employees at The Original Pantry honor Ash Wednesday
Workers at The Original Pantry comfort each other on the last day of restaurant operations after 100 years.

The Original Pantry Cafe Workers Refuse to Be Thrown Out on The Street

Steadfast after closure, workers at The Original Pantry say the fight for the restaurant’s future is not over

Community members protest the closure of LA icon The Original Pantry

The Original Pantry Café closed its doors for the last time at 5 PM yesterday,  according to the entity that controls the restaurant. But long-time workers are seeking further talks with the Richard J. Riordan Trust, the entity that decided to close the restaurant, in an ongoing effort to keep the L.A. icon open under new ownership.

Last night, after workers wiped down the tables and mopped the floors, they gathered in the restaurant’s historic dining room while still in uniform and asked to speak with a representative from the Trust. Trust representatives refused to speak with the workers and instead called the police on The Pantry’s employees.

Under threat of arrest, workers exited the restaurant peacefully at 7 PM to the cheers and applause of supporters rallying outside. The LAPD briefly detained and cited UNITE HERE Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen.

“Mayor Riordan’s heirs and the trustees of his estate have chosen to discard these workers in a shameless move straight out of Elon Musk’s playbook,” said Petersen. “I think the late mayor would be appalled at the greed on display.”

In negotiations with UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents the workers, The Pantry gave its employees an ultimatum: The restaurant will shut down and fire all workers unless workers give up their demand for job security and continued union representation when the restaurant changes hands.

The Original Pantry worker Mary G speaks to the media on the last day of operations at the restaurant

Maricela Granados, a 26-year server known by her long-time customers as Mary G., said as she left the restaurant, “I didn’t believe they would really close and kick us all out. I’m not sure what I’m going to do next, but I won’t stop fighting for the Pantry.”

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice have launched a GoFundMe for the fired workers.

 

PRESS ADVISORY: LA Councilmember Curren Price, State Senators Durazo, Smallwood Cuevas and More Rally to Save Original Pantry Cafe Jobs Ahead of Riordan Trust’s Threat to Close Sunday Inbox

Los Angeles: Political leaders like Los Angeles Councilmember Curren Price, State Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas, and others plan to rally alongside Pantry workers to urge the Richard J. Riordan Trust to resolve the labor dispute and pull back from its decision to close the Pantry.

Earlier this week, the Original Pantry workers and the 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 continues to be set on its intention to close the restaurant on Sunday, March 2nd at 5pm. In negotiations, The Pantry reasserted its ultimatum to employees: The restaurant will shut down and fire all workers unless workers give up their demand for job security and continued union representation when the restaurant changes hands.

The Pantry threatened to close the restaurant despite the over one hundred letters from customers urging the Trust to keep the restaurant open.

In spite of The Pantry’s threat, workers remain committed to saving their jobs, keeping their union, and maintaining 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.

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.

Community Rallies Around The Original Pantry Cafe, Host Dine-In to Save Worker Jobs!

Beloved institution formerly owned by Richard Riordan under closure threat by trust that controls the late mayor’s estate

Los Angeles: Dozens of community leaders and neighbors plan to hold a Dine-In at the Original Pantry Cafe. The upsurge in community support to save the Pantry and good union jobs comes after last week dozens of workers of the historic landmark picketed the iconic institution formerly owned by Mayor Richard Riordan. Since his passing in 2023, The Richard J. Riordan Trust has exercised control over the restaurant, which has been designated an LA Historic-Cultural Monument.  The Trust has announced its intention that the restaurant be closed.  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.

Community leaders plan to come together on the same day the Trust is set to resume negotiations with the union and workers. Their hope is to send a strong message to the owners in hope that they will agree to a fair contract and job protections.

The union representing the workers, UNITE HERE Local 11, has filed a pending unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the threatened closure violates federal labor law. Workers at this historic restaurant are fighting for a fair and dignified contract and to guarantee they are able to keep their jobs and the rights that come with union representation.

Save the Pantry!