Thursday, October 18, 2012

Solidarity Fish Fry, Second Helpings - Hold The Crab Please

Ten days ago, I passed along the story that the management at Serb Hall, once the home of Milwaukee's best fish fry, was trying to bust its union. They were harassing their workers, driving them out. They were also bargaining in bad faith, asking the dozen or so unionized members to make concessions worth $80,000, or about 40% of their pay.

I also passed along the wonderful suggestion of showing support for the union workers by going to Serb Hall and having a fish fry, but asking to have a union waitress to be one's server.

And that's just what we did last Friday. Scores of people came to Serb Hall and asked for one of the union waitresses. Sadly, only one of them was working in the dining hall while the rest were serving at an event on the other side of the building.

Still, the show of support was appreciated. And it felt good to show support for our union brothers and sisters in such a positive way.

Yet there was one problem. Tom Miller, the general manager, was being a King Crab. He was openly berating, haranguing and verbally abusing the staff in front of customers. Apparently unsatisfied with harassing his staff, he starting in with being rude and argumentative with the customers, telling them that customers won't tell him how to run his business.

Here is a video taken in the bar area of Serb Hall last Friday, right after he publicly bawled out a bartender and the only union waitress working the dining hall. Their sin was to offer to serve the group their food in the bar, since her tables were all taken. Be advised that the sound is not the best:



By the way, as a long time customer of Serb Hall, I can tell the reader that Mr. Miller was being less than honest in that video.

Despite Mr. Miller's boorish behavior, the support for the event was very positive. People that missed it asked if we were going to do it again. Many of those who did come said that they wanted to come back for seconds.

After seeing the abuse the staff and the customers had to take that night, we felt that maybe management didn't get the message after all.

So we are doing it again, this Friday, October 19.

And it's not just us. Eighty people have already signed on for this event on Facebook. And some of these are local celebrities.

Among the distinguished diners expected this week are State Representative Christine Sinicki. Also expected legislative candidates Kelley Dee Albrecht, John Pokrandt, Kim Peterson and Chris Rockwood.

And, of course, you'll have the usual union thug crew of Randy Brice, our own Meg and myself.

But whether you sign up or not, go down to Serb Hall this Friday for a fish fry. Just remember to ask for a union server. Since the sections are likely to be full, be prepared to wait. And if you are already seated, please keep in mind that there are more union supporters waiting for their turn to support the union staff. Don't take too long after you're done eating so that the next shift can get in there.

And make sure you leave a good tip! Also let management know that they are getting their money through union wages like Randy Brice did last week:


Oh, and one more thing to do.

Tell them Cog Dis sent ya.

3 comments:

  1. WHEN DID SERB HALL GET SOLD! AND A MAN CALLED TOM MILLER OWNS IT OR DOES HE JUST RUN IT , AS IN RUNNING IT TO THE GROUND. WHY DID THEY CHANGE A GOOD THING THERE. TIME TO FIND A NEW GM
    SO SAD, HE SHOULD BE HAPPY TO SERVE AT THE BAR , IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE.
    OUR SUPPORT IS WITH YOU IF AND WHEN YOU NEED IT

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  2. WOW , WHAT A WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS !!!
    OUR SUPPORT IS WITH THE STAFF!!

    ReplyDelete