Casa Bonita Entertainment Workers Vote to Unionize

The unionization effort launched by Casa Bonita workers just passed unanimously. In October, employees in the entertainment department announced that they were working with Actors Equity Association and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7 to unionize at the legendary pink eatertainment palace, which turned fifty this year.

“Today, we are proud that we stood as a group and said clearly: We want to make Casa Bonita better,” the workers announced in a joint statement on November 21. “We love Casa Bonita, and already give our all to providing our guests with an unforgettable experience. When it is a safer, fairer place to work, we will be able to better focus on doing our jobs knowing we are protected, respected and valued. We knew that the best way to make that happen was as unionized workers, and this landslide vote confirms that we will. We are eager to take our place at the bargaining table soon.”

In response to the vote, Casa Bonita management issued this statement to the public:  "Casa Bonita values all its employees. We respect the rights of our employees and their recent vote to form a union. We look forward to continuing a positive relationship going forward."

The Equity Casa Bonita bargaining unit includes cliff divers, actors, puppeteers and magicians, and the IATSE unit comprises the crew that provides vital support to keep entertainment at Casa Bonita operating. The Casa Bonita performers had gotten in touch with Actors Equity Association through the Organize Your Workplace form on the union's website. Equity represents 51,000 professional actors and stage managers on Broadway, at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and in live theater across the United States. IATSE Local 7 represents theatrical stage, film and exhibition employees in Colorado; IATSE as a whole represents roughly 170,000 behind-the-scenes entertainment workers across the United States and Canada.

“The workers made it clear today that they stand united for a stronger and safer Casa Bonita,” Stefanie Frey, Equity's director of organizing and mobilization, said in a statement. “It is their vision and courage that brought us quickly to an election, and that passion is what is going to get us through bargaining. We are so grateful to work with IATSE on getting even more workers at Casa Bonita unionized, and this solidarity is going to mean a better collective bargaining agreement down the road. On to bargaining!”

They'll be bargaining with representatives of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the native Coloradans and creators of South Park who made Casa Bonita internationally famous in a 2003 segment; they announced they were buying Casa Bonita during a Facebook Live with Governor Jared Polis in August 2021. Since then, the new owners have poured more than $40 million into restoring the official Lakewood landmark at 6715 West Colfax, and the work continues.

In the meantime, Casa Bonita remains the toughest reservation to get in town. Try your luck here.