SunTrapp workers are striking as they attempt to unionize

Some employees at one of Salt Lake City’s oldest and most recognized LGBTQ+ bars have announced their intent to unionize, setting off a growing conflict between staff and management at The SunTrapp.

The newly formed SunTrapp Workers United, composed of bartenders, security, and support staff, says it has filed to join the Communications Workers of America Local 7765, the same union that represents employees at the University of Utah and Utah State University. Workers hand-delivered a letter to owner Mary Peterson earlier this month asking her to voluntarily recognize their union by October 10.

Lead bartender and organizing committee member Natalie Jankowski said the effort aims to strengthen safety policies and job protections in a space central to Salt Lake City’s queer community.

“We want to ensure the longevity of this space and create policies that safeguard the community that The SunTrapp offers,” Jankowski said. “All of the staff loves it so much, and so do the customers.”

She said workers also want to see improved benefits and protections typical of larger employers.

“I think it’s pretty common practice here in town for owners to not offer any sort of benefits or retirement plans or health insurance, even if you are full time,” she said. “And I would like to change that.”

The situation has since escalated, with SWU saying that eight employees were fired, some rehired, and then dismissed again, in what they describe as retaliation for organizing. The group has now launched a strike and a “solidarity fund” on GoFundMe to help cover lost income and potential legal expenses.

Union organizers say their priorities include safety for both workers and patrons “as the political climate gets worse and worse.” Jankowski cited rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment and recent acts of violence in Utah as reasons for clearer, enforceable safety policies.

Peterson disputed claims that staff raised security concerns, noting that she has increased on-site security, added bag checks, and installed cameras since taking ownership in 2024.

Peterson, who reopened The SunTrapp in June 2024 after major renovations, said she was unaware of the organizing drive until she saw the workers’ Instagram announcement. She insists she is committed to maintaining a safe, fair workplace.

“Over the past year and three months, I have put an incredible amount of work into turning around the reputation of The SunTrapp,” Peterson said in a written statement. “I have striven to ensure that this bar is a safe place for the community to come and be themselves, a safe and fair environment for my employees, and a haven for all.”

She said she pays employees “well over minimum wage and above the industry averages” and offers health coverage through a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement for eligible full-time workers. The bar currently has two full-time employees.

No other gay bars, past or present, have had unionized labor. An intensive search of available records does not reveal any bar in the state with unionized workers.

“I am not anti-union,” Peterson said in a later Instagram video, “but there are certain industries where it doesn’t work as well. When my staff approached me, I was very ignorant to the process of private unionization… I made a huge mistake firing them, and I had to hire them back legally. Everything I do now is through legal counsel, with one priority — to keep my staff safe and the business running.”

She said ongoing protests outside the bar have discouraged patrons from visiting and put the venue at risk. “I can’t withstand this for more than two more weeks,” she said. “The goal here is to make sure the queer community has a space to come to where they are loved and accepted.”

The SunTrapp — formerly The Sun Tavern — first opened in 1973 under gay rights pioneer Joe Redburn and is recognized as Utah’s oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ bar. After years of ownership changes, legal disputes, and a temporary closure in 2022, Peterson reopened the venue with new investment and infrastructure in 2024.

Now, the dispute over unionization has placed its future back in question. With the current federal shutdown pausing all National Labor Relations Board hearings, the standoff is effectively frozen, though the employees continue to strike on weekends.