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Pier dispute: workers, union and prospective lessee press council over Rusty's lease and rehiring
Summary
Former Rusty's employees, Unite Here and community supporters urged the council to ensure any new lease for 256 Santa Monica Pier includes worker-retention protections; the prospective operator, California Roadhouse, said its proposal includes offers to train and rehire former Rusty's staff.
Dozens of past employees, union representatives and community allies urged the City Council on April 14 to protect the jobs of Rusty's Surf Ranch workers during negotiations over a new lease at 256 Santa Monica Pier.
Multiple speakers, including Unite Here organizers and former Rusty's staff, said the city should require the incoming operator to rehire the full set of eligible former employees under the city's worker retention law. "Every single Rusty's worker should be offered their job back," said Brett Morrow, citing a community letter and worker retention advocates.
At the meeting, Rent Control Board chair Danny Ivanov told council he would favor approval of a lease only if it explicitly guaranteed opportunities for former employees and allowed the city to monitor compliance. Unite Here and other witnesses cited news reports that the leading applicant might rehire fewer than 100% of former employees and urged the council to reject any plan that avoided local protections.
The prospective operator, Sean Ahos of California Roadhouse, addressed council in support of his proposal. Ahos said the operator's offer "provides for new jobs and full job training for every single former Rusty's worker that was working at 256 Santa Monica Pier when Rusty's closed." He asked the council to approve their agreement without further delay to restore jobs and live music to the Pier.
Why it matters: The Pier is a prominent public asset and a major local employer; council decisions on lease terms affect worker rehiring, live-entertainment programming, and the Pier's economic and cultural role.
Actions and outcome: In closed session the council directed staff to continue negotiations with California Roadhouse and to include rehiring of all former Rusty's employees as part of the lease talks. The instruction was reported out after the closed session.
Next steps: Staff will resume negotiations with California Roadhouse in closed session and are expected to return with lease terms that reflect council direction on worker protections and monitoring provisions.
