Staff walks out of Winnipeg Smitty's amid disputed allegations

Abdullah Khojasada has worked at the St. James Smitty's restaurant on Ellis Avenue for nearly six years. Recently, he reached his breaking point. I cannot find a peace of mind. I don't want to work in a place where I'm disrespected for what I say, what I stand for. He quit last Wednesday. According to Smitty's, the general manager was being investigated for misconduct, something Khojasada denies. The restaurant says to other managers and encourages staff to leave the restaurant. 18 employees walked off the job. Some of them gather outside the business the next day. If we're walking out, we're walking out. If we want to prove a point, let's prove a point right now. Since 2024, Khojasada says at least two staff members who oversee other employees have allegedly treated staff brutally, shared feedback on mistakes publicly, and disregarded company rules. Shayna Curl was one of the servers who quit, alleging that when indigenous families came, managers sometimes gave directions that made her uncomfortable. Oh, don't let their bill get higher than $50. You better go make them pay. Don't let that table go in and out for smokes because if they walk out, then you're going to have to pay for it. She says employees were also routinely charged for customers who left without paying. I will come in and sometimes tolerate that disrespect because I need the money. But at the end of the day, like, at what cost? At my mental health? The owners of this branch declined an interview, but in a statement dispute, the allegations made by staff. Coroner Valerie Fong says they don't tolerate harassment of any kind and every staff member should be treated with dignity. There's also no policy or direction suggesting some customers should be treated differently. She says the situation is being mischaracterized but they're not in a position to disclose specifics publicly and they're looking at the policies in this restaurant to make sure they're carried through as intended. Sheridan Tate Reum says that as a server she raised her concerns with management but didn't feel heard. And while she also needs the job to make a living, she felt she had no option but to quit. If you want to have a good restaurant facility, you should respect your staff. One of Smitty's owners says as of Sunday, five employees who left have returned to their jobs. Santiago Arias Orozco, CBC News, Winnipeg.