Winnipeg restaurant staff walk out over alleged disrespect and discrimination

WINNIPEG · Employees at a Winnipeg Smitty's restaurant walked off the job this week, alleging disrespectful treatment and discrimination. More than a dozen servers, managers and kitchen staff left the St. James location after their complaints went unaddressed. The franchise owners dispute the characterization of the situation. According to the restaurant, 18 employees participated in the walkout, though five have since returned.

The former general manager, Ahadullah Khojazada, said he resigned on Wednesday because his concerns about staff treatment were ignored. He alleged that since 2024, at least two supervisory employees routinely disrespected staff, publicly criticized mistakes and ignored company rules. "I've lost seven to eight managers working at this place. Nevermind the amount of servers or kitchen employees that I lost. All of them had the same complaint, they are disrespected or humiliated by [two employees]," Khojazada said. He added, "I cannot find the peace of mind. I don't want to work in a place where I'm disrespected."

In a statement, Smitty's said Khojazada was under investigation for misconduct when he quit. The restaurant said two other managers then urged staff to leave, prompting the mass walkout. Some employees gathered outside the business the following day to protest. Former servers Shayna Curle and Sheridan Tait-Reaume, who resigned on Wednesday, said they observed discrimination against Indigenous patrons.

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Curle stated that other staff refused to serve tables with Indigenous families, commenting on their ability to pay or demanding payment upfront. "They don't do that to white people. It's only ever with Indigenous customers," Curle said. As an Indigenous woman, she called the experience "heartbreaking." "When people come in to dine, they want to be treated respectfully," Curle said. Tait-Reaume said management failed to uphold basic standards. "It's honestly basic human decency that they have to provide," Tait-Reaume said. "Why make a code of conduct if you're not going to respect it?"

Curle also alleged that staff were regularly made to pay for customers who dined and dashed. Valarie Funk, co-owner of the St. James Smitty’s, said in a statement that the situation is mischaracterized but specifics cannot be discussed publicly. Funk said there is no policy directing differential treatment of customers. "We want to be clear that we do not tolerate racism, discrimination, or harassment of any kind," Funk said. "We have always believed that a workplace where every person feels respected and accepted is not just good practice, it is the only way to operate." Funk said the owners are reviewing operations at the location to ensure policies are followed. She confirmed that five employees who walked out have resumed their jobs.

With files from CBC News