Casa Bonita cliff divers, entertainers plan to unionize

Cliff divers, magicians and other performers at Casa Bonita are seeking to unionize to address safety concerns in the workplace and negotiate their pay.

Their concerns range from insufficient training, scheduling and safety to “abusive patrons emboldened by alcohol,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7, which represents theatrical stage, film and exhibition workers in Colorado, and the Actors’ Equity Association.

Casa Bonita, at 6715 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood, employs a cast of roving performers who engage with guests throughout the famed restaurant and venue. The most well-known are the cliff divers who perform stunts off the 30-foot waterfall, a focal point of the restaurant experience. But there are also actors, puppeteers, magicians and other crew.

A letter from Casa Bonita’s general manager to staff, obtained by The Denver Post, shows the restaurant declined to voluntarily recognize the union and suggested there be a vote. The employees have filed with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election.

“Every person working in entertainment deserves the rights and protections of a union, whether you work in a bar, club, theater, arena, convention center, film studio – or the most fun restaurant imaginable,” Max Peterson, business agent for IATSE Local 7, said in a statement.

“Casa Bonita values all its employees and their safety and believes they are treated well and compensated fairly. We respect the rights of our employees and believe they should be entitled to vote on whether they are subject to a union,” the restaurant’s management said in a statement provided to The Denver Post.

Joshua Emerson, an actor who plays the gorilla at Casa Bonita, said there have been numerous incidents involving guests who interact inappropriately with entertainers. In one example, Emerson said a patron grabbed a lime from behind a bar and threw it at the face of his colleague who was in the gorilla suit that night.

“Alcohol is a big part of revenue and patrons, you know, they indulge,” Emerson said. “We’re on the floor until 10 (p.m.) and really we have a timeline. At 8 p.m. we know that’s when people are going to be the drunkest, so we sort of have to watch our backs.”

“It’s hard not to feel sometimes like management prioritizes guest experience over the safety of their employees,” added actor Riley Holmes, who plays several different characters at Casa Bonita. Holmes said he has been groped by diners before.

According to Emerson and Holmes, actors are paid a flat hourly rate, from about $21 to $28, determined by which role they are playing. Right now, it’s unclear how individuals are promoted or when their pay rate increases due to a promotion, prompting some employees to leave, they said.

“The people that work in entertainment at Casa Bonita believe in it,” Emerson said. “What we want to be doing is be at a place where it’s safe to work, but also so we can connect generations, so Casa Bonita, I think, can be an institution in the Colorado zeitgeist forever.”

Casa Bonita, a beloved Mexican restaurant in Denver, is as famous for its over-the-top decor as it is for its distinctive variety of entertainers – the acrobatic cliff divers. This tourist attraction, known for its breathtaking cliff diving shows, has now caught attention for another reason – the talent behind the exhilarating performances is planning to unionize.

The Casa Bonita cliff divers and other entertainers are making waves as they take steps to form a workers’ union, underscoring a broader trend among gig workers nationwide. This unexpected move by a group of entertainers diverse in role – from cliff divers to puppeteers – has brought focus back to discussions about the rights of workers in the informal and creative sectors.

The crux of the matter lies in the often precarious work conditions faced by the performers at the restaurant. Uneven work hours, uncertain employment terms, and low pay have driven the entertainers towards collective bargaining, with a renewed focus on securing better pay and more stable work conditions.

The decision among the entertainers at Casa Bonita to unionize is not a spur of the moment action. It’s the culmination of years of dissatisfaction with working conditions and what they claim is inadequate compensation for their high-risk performances.

However, this move towards unionization has not been met without resistance. While some welcome the discussion around labor rights in the creative and entertainment sectors, others fear it could lead to increased operational costs and potentially jeopardize the charm and affordability that Casa Bonita holds for its visitors.

This impending unionization has also stirred up concerns regarding the broader implications for stand-alone restaurants and venues that rely on unique forms of entertainment to draw in patrons. The rising trend of unionization amongst gig workers and entertainers could urge similar establishments nationwide to reassess their worker policies and bitter pay disputes could be forced into the limelight.

The entertainers from Casa Bonita are currently in contact with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a labor union representing technicians, artisans, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry. They seek to follow the necessary steps to establish a performers union, hoping to negotiate terms that ensure fair wages and safer working conditions.

This development, set against the enchantingly flamboyant backdrop of Casa Bonita, is representative of the changing dynamics of the American labor landscape. As unconventional sectors enter the sphere of organized labor, the conversation around workers’ rights expands, reflecting the varied and evolving nature of work in the 21st century.

Whether the Casa Bonita cliff divers and entertainers will subsequently set a precedent for similar entertainers across America remains to be seen. However, the momentum they have instigated promises to inspire robust discussion about the value and recognition of labor rights within the wider entertainment industry. Will the cliff diver’s jump into the unknown land them securely onto a platform of better rights and wages? Only time will tell.