About 20 protesters gathered in front of the new Top Dog sports bar attached to the University City Sheraton Friday.
The demonstration marked the third day of protests encouraging passers-by not to patronize Top Dog because of alleged mistreatment of former employees.
According to the protesters, Top Dog management failed to comply with a Philadelphia city ordinance when it took over the bar previously called Shula's Steak 2. The ordinance, passed by Philadelphia City Council about two years ago, requires that new management continue to employ current workers for a transition period of 90 days.
"We're protesting the destruction of area standards and the violation of a city ordinance," said Charles Murphy, a high-ranking official for local union 274, on Thursday.
"Our beef is only with Top Dog and the lack of them doing the right thing," he added.
However, Top Dog owner Bruce Waugh maintained that he is not doing anything wrong.
Because Waugh is an independent contractor and Top Dog does not receive any subsidies from the Sheraton, Waugh said the ordinance aimed at protecting union workers does not apply to him.
Waugh also explained that Top Dog is a different kind of restaurant than Shula's was. Top Dog is a "fun food" restaurant whereas Shula's was closer to "fine dining." Since Waugh is attempting to transform the bar into a completely new type of venue, he said he is not obligated to maintain the same employees.
In addition to the ordinance violation, protesters also voiced disapproval of Top Dog wages.
"No more kibbles and bits," they chanted.
According to Murphy, Top Dog is paying its employees $2.13 per hour.
"2.13 isn't a living wage," Murphy said on Thursday. "It's a lottery number."
Waugh said that because he charges less for food than Shula's did, he cannot afford to pay employees as much.
"I am not a big CEO living in riches," Waugh said in a statement.
He also expressed regret that he could not afford the former employees.
"I really care about my employees, as well as the union workers who lost their work because my life is no different than theirs. We are all just trying to provide for ourselves and our families," he said in the statement.
However, Waugh said he does pay more than many competing restaurant chains in the area. Although he counts on his wait staff to earn a substantial amount of money from tips, he does pay his cooks a starting wage of $10 per hour.
"It makes me look like I'm doing something really wrong, really negative, and in reality I'm doing more than the total majority is doing," Waugh said in an earlier interview.
"You can't force me to go bankrupt before I can even know what kind of business I'm gonna do here," Waugh said in the interview.
About 75 workers and union members participated in the demonstrations last week. Participants ranged from LaSalle University students to members of the United Food and Commercial Workers.
Representatives from Local 274 said they will continue to protest until the issue is resolved.
Waugh said the protestors had not gathered on Saturday, and Murphy could not be reached for comment to confirm this Sunday.
Waugh said he would be happy to settle the dispute in a court of law.
"If I have broken any ordinance, I would certainly make good on any responsibility I may have," he said in the statement.
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