Actors' Equity Association Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge as Casa Bonita Eliminates Beloved Characters
Lakewood, Colorado – Casa Bonita, the venerable Denver institution that recently underwent a $40 million renovation bankrolled by owners Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame, has informed Actors' Equity Association and Casa Bonita United of the imminent elimination of beloved roaming characters Black Bart, Captain Isabella, Amazon Ani and the Sheriff. In response, Actors' Equity Association, the union representing more than 51,000 actors and stage managers nationwide including the entertainers at Casa Bonita, has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Without engaging in bargaining with Actors' Equity Association as required by the National Labor Relations Act, Casa Bonita management has unilaterally eliminated over 1,000 hours of available shifts for unionized employees,” said Andrea Hoeschen, Actors' Equity Association's assistant executive director and general counsel. “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.”
“As such, Actors' Equity Association has filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the National Labor Relations Board for the above violations and calls on Casa Bonita management to reverse their unlawful course of action immediately, and to restore Black Bart, Captain Isabella, Amazon Ani and the Sheriff while also bargaining in good faith with the union as required by law.”
Management at Casa Bonita faces a rapidly unionizing workforce. In the last year, IATSE has organized arcade workers and crew, and they are preparing for an upcoming election for 150+ servers, bussers, front-of-house and guest service workers). Management's retaliation against the unionized roaming character performers jeopardizes employees' abilities to pay their rent, buy groceries and continue to provide the entertainment that's so beloved by Casa Bonita patrons.
For additional information, please follow Casa Bonita United ( @casabonitaunited) and Actors' Equity Association ( @actorsequity) on Instagram.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks