Why Walrus and the Carpenter shut its doors this week

The Walrus and the Carpenter shut its doors temporarily this week after a labor standoff tied to safety concerns at the Seattle restaurant and a dispute over pay structure. According to United Creatures of the Sea secretary-treasurer Ford Nickel, workers and management reached a tentative agreement Wednesday evening expected to end the strike. The Ballard fine-dining flagship, part of chef Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures group, had stayed open at first using replacement staff when the walkout began last week, following more than a year of contract talks. It closed Monday and Tuesday after management cited incidents documented by its security team, including harassment and spitting, directed at guests. The union disputed the claims, saying workers had not experienced similar behavior. The restaurant reopened Wednesday, with union employees expected back Friday.