Cory Booker, Bob Menendez urge Medieval Times to negotiate with unionized employees

Both of New Jersey’s U.S. senators voiced their support for unionized Medieval Times workers in the state in a letter to the company’s chief executives, as contract negotiations drag on. 

Who the senators wrote

Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker sent a letter to Medieval Times CEO Perico Montaner and Vice President for Human Resources Julie Muenzler, urging them to follow federal law and bargain in good faith. 

Where are the castles?

One is in Lyndhurst, and another is in Buena Park, California. Workers in New Jersey voted in July last year to form a union, a first for the dinner theater chain, alleging unsafe working conditions. The move affects jesters, trumpeters, stunt performers and stable hands.

The Buena Park Medieval Times voted to unionize in November last year. Both are working with the American Guild of Variety Artists. 

What the senators said

In their letter, Menendez and Booker accused Medieval Times management of “extreme union busting attempts” against staff working “extremely dangerous” jobs. 

“We write to urge you to cease all future union busting activities, including contracting with union busting “persuader” consultants, and also strongly request that you negotiate in good faith with workers at the Lyndhurst and Buena Park castles in accordance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to form a first collective bargaining agreement,” the two senators wrote on Wednesday.

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Growing union bid? 

The pandemic brought renewed interest in union membership, and that spurred union drives in places like Starbucks. But figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics this January showed a shrinking union membership rate in 2022 even as more people came out to join unions. 

“The low wages, irregular schedules and difficult work environments that are common in the hospitality industry have contributed to the shortage of workers willing to fill these positions,” Todd Vachon, a Rutgers University professor and director of the school’s Labor Education Action Research Network, which partners with workers' rights groups, said in an interview last year.

Booker and Menendez previously joined letters in support of unionized workers in the Senate cafeteria as well as at United Airlines and Starbucks, and journalists at The Record and the Asbury Park Press.

Medieval Times faces six unfair labor practices charges, according to the letter and public records, while the Buena Park location faces four such charges.

“We write to request a response within 30 calendar days as to your plans to negotiate in good faith to form a first collective bargaining contract with the unionized castle workers in New Jersey and California,” the two senators wrote. “We also request a written response committing to halt all retaliation and future union busting efforts with these and all other employees.” 

Medieval Times did not immediately return an email seeking comment for this story.