On Tuesday afternoon, unionized workers at the Walrus and the Carpenter held a strike authorization vote in the sweltering Ballard sun minutes before the acclaimed oyster-centric spot opened for service. Eighteen of 20 union members voted to authorize a strike (with two not voting), so leadership will be able to call a work stoppage if progress isn’t being made at the bargaining table with Sea Creatures restaurant group. Negotiations have stretched on for more than a year.
The union, United Workers of the Sea, was formed last year by employees at Walrus, the Capitol Hill steakhouse Bateau, and the doughnut shop mini-chain General Porpoise. (Since then, General Porpoise closed all but one of its locations and Bateau shut down temporarily before reopening as Jeffry’s.) In a sometimes chaotic and turnover-heavy service industry, restaurants seldom unionize. The three units are simultaneously bargaining for separate contracts. Walrus employees are the only ones who have authorized a strike to apply pressure on management.
The main contention is the service charge model. In late 2024, it replaced a tip-pool system, which the union claims was effectively a pay cut. Management disputes this…