here is the latest on the restaurants closing and employees

Berlingirl · Post by **Berlingirl** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:23 pm

I posted the below on the Frank Barnako article post...however nobody is replying as everybody is reading this post. I'll post my questions here.

Who actually owns these eating establishments? Can one of the employees explain who is responsible? Who is the person at the top of this mess? Wondering if the owners are indigent and really can't pay up or if they are rich mainlanders coming down to play resturant for a while, they've been profitable in the past, did they take the money and run and leave everybody in a sinking ship???

The entire story is very confusing.

Thanks for taking the time to clear what is going on...
_________________

ToNto · Post by **ToNto** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:46 pm

you say "I know everything that is going on with this company"

broad and sweeping, uh I think so. oh uh let me go check my black kettle...

writing this a bit in jest.

hi ho silver..

Berlingirl · Post by **Berlingirl** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:59 pm

Thank you ToNto for your answer on the other thread!

satobsat · Post by **satobsat** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:43 pm

I have to say, I've worked in many restaurants in many states since about the time of the Emacipation Proclimation (which this company seems to want to repeal with it's free labor policies) & though I exaggerate my length of service, I can emphaticaly state that I have never seen a management group this blatent in it's complete & utter disregard for the law. I say "law" in the singular, because you can pick one- any one, & the statement will apply.

HeyWatchThis! · Post by **HeyWatchThis!** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:08 pm

Dear ToNto

ha ha ha!! Touche! what I SHOULD have said was, "I know enough about this company to understand the anger!"

cheers!
the Broad (sweeper)

iamyourserver · Post by **iamyourserver** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:39 am

For all these restaurants today - is PAYDAY! While most employers would give you your check on FRIDAY when payday falls on a Sunday- this company doesnt even acknowledge it's existence. That makes it NO PAY yet again for this month...

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:17 pm

Sorry if my thinking here is lame, but I would have so walked months ago! Give me one bad check, ok, anyone can make a mistake, but give me 2 bad checks or don't pay me at all, and the last thing you'll see is my a$$ going out the door. Why does everyone hang in there to not get paid? Even if you do it because you want to be around when they start handing out money, it doesn't sound like that's ever going to happen. Even if everyone would probably get their back pay when the Feds come down on them, that's a long way off. And if there's no legal resolution to this, what makes you think you'll EVER see any money, whether you stay or not? I'm not ragging on you, I'm just totally curious why you people hang in there?

MrB · Post by **MrB** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:41 pm

Walked to where? I can't imagine there are a derth of jobs on island right now. Nor
do I see more than a few westin postings at careers.vi. Where do 3 resturant worth of employees go?

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:47 pm

MrB, don't you think "walking" and seeking employment elsewhere is better than working and not getting paid? Even sitting home on your butt reading want ads is better in my opinion. If you're not getting paid, why not attempt to find something else?

I just read the ads on www.career.vi and there's a lot of stuff available on St. Thomas. When I was sitting by the ferry dock waiting for JJ's to open, the first ferry came in from STT full of commuters from STT. Before I'd work for someone for FREE, I'd get my butt on that ferry and commute to STT. Millions of people all over the US drive miles and miles to work every day. It seems to me a 20 min. ferry ride is no worse.

** Edited to say that although there may not be a lot of restaurant jobs on STT, there are other kinds. If I wasn't getting paid, I'd do just about anything, like selling souvenirs in a gift shop, in order to pay my rent and put food in my mouth.

stjhome · Post by **stjhome** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:42 pm

CA Girl - it isn't just a 20 minute ferry ride... Even with the commuter discount the ferry is quite expensive, add to that the cost of a taxi to any given venue, if in fact, you are able to secure a taxi ride for the hours you are expected to work. There is a HUGE difference between driving miles and traveling at the mercy of the ferry and taxi schedules.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:04 pm

Ok, I understand the cost of the ferry, as I used to pay to take a toll road to work. Would it be possible to get a junker car you could leave at the ferry terminal in Red Hook to take to & from your job, rather than a taxi (which I totally understand would not be an option when it comes to the cost)?

I'm not trying to start anything here, really, I'm just trying to understand why some of the restaurant workers don't commute? Not being there myself, I'm quite sure there's a lot I don't "get".

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:30 pm

California Girl wrote: I'm just trying to understand why some of the restaurant workers don't commute?

CG:

Couple of years ago, my daughter decided to live the dream by moving to the VI. She found some roomies to live w/ in STT, and searched around for a decent job in "watersports."

Low Key offered her a job, but they wanted her to open the shop, which was a PITA for someone living on STT. (For a young person, getting up at 5AM to make the 1st ferry to STJ is a deal-killer.) She ended up w/ a job at Chris Sawyer's shop in RH, which worked out much better for her.

Pay in the VI isn't that great, and its not that easy finding a job where the paycheck is consistent. (Something to think about when you go out on a charter ... those charters don't go out every day if there's insufficient demand.)

When I go to, say, Woody's, I try to tip the waiters/resses well, because I know what my daughter dealt w/ when she was there.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:33 pm

Thanks for the explanation John. I hadn't thought about the "consistency" of a paycheck, and I do understand that charters can be dicey as to whether they go out one day to the next.

uptotheminute · Post by **uptotheminute** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:17 pm

CG, your question is legitimate, but unfortunately not easy to answer. First, many of these people have been paid just enough (i.e. a big enough portion of their tips to barely survive), while being promised the remainder...ONLY if they stay with the company. Given this, how long do you trust a log-term employer who suddenly appears to be having problems (when you have no idea all along how ... "sleezy" they really are? Hind sight is a wonderful thing). What about the illegals? I realize that's another subject altogether, but those (political) issues aside, imagine for a minute their plight. No recourse whatsoever. You just keep working in hopes at some point the people who have employed you for days, weeks, YEARS...will somehow come through because you've nowhere else to go. Then there are the new employees who don't know any better. Try telling a new trainee the truth and see where that gets you with your boss (not to mention the new person will likely not believe you...) This is so complicated CG you just don't know. And that's just regarding working for these horrible people. Regarding work on STT, sure, there is more work there, but have you seen the economy lately? Even on STT the possibilities are slim, with many, many people applying for the same jobs. Then there's the commute to STT, which has been discussed eloquently above. Just getting to another island is a chore, never mind getting to where you need to go. Taxis are WAY too expensive, Safari busses are not reliable (especially after 6 or 7pm), and how do you buy a beater car when you haven't been paid in who knows how long? As for working in a shop to survive, let me ask you how you would pay your bills on $8 an hour if you were to lose your current job? It's not ego CG, it's just that you can't pay your $1500 rent with $300 a week!
The reason I said I hope now that people will stop eating at these restaurants is that season is picking up and employees will soon have options. My hope is that after a short, (albeit painfull) change, all the wonderful people who work at these places will move on to the good, PAYING jobs they deserve. Think of it this way. If the legitimate restaurants are busier, it will create more jobs with them...in short, all-around better for everyone.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:12 pm

uptotheminute wrote:It's not ego CG, it's just that you can't pay your $1500 rent with $300 a week!

I understand that completely, it makes sense, but isn't $300 a week more than you're taking home now? (or maybe not, if there are still customers who tip in cash)

uptotheminute wrote:.. season is picking up and employees will soon have options.

Ok, I'm understanding now. If everyone can wait it out for a few more weeks, other job opportunities will come along with the season. Makes sense. Living on an island is vastly different than living on the mainland, I'm glad to hear this perspective. Thanks!

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