United Creatures of the Sea is raising funds to support unionized restaurant workers at Renee Erickson's flagship Seattle restaurant Walrus and the Carpenter, who have voted unanimously to authorize an unfair labor practice strike against Renee Erickson's Sea Creatures group. UCS is a young independent labor union without an established treasury and needs the help of the community to support these workers.

For more than a year, unionized workers have attempted to secure a fair first contract through bargaining and legal channels. During that time, workers believe that Sea Creatures has engaged in a sustained pattern of unfair labor practices intended to undermine the union, stall negotiations, and evade bargaining obligations until the workers either give up or are forced to move on.

Cooks, shuckers, servers, dishwashers, bartenders, bakers, and baristas working for Renee Erickson have faced reduced hours, lost income, worsened benefits, instability, and ongoing pressure while continuing to organize and bargain for a fair contract. These workers have proposed a ULP strike to enforce their demand that Renee Erickson and Sea Creatures cease violating their rights, bargain in good faith, and negotiate a fair first contract.

The workers do not want to strike, but are preparing to do so if it's the only way to get Renee's company to take their legal obligations seriously and bargain a contract in good faith.

Raised funds will go directly to workers to replace income lost during the strike, to pay for rent, groceries, transportation, medical expenses, and other basic needs. Excess funds, if any, will be used to build a strike and defense treasury for future actions, legal representation and arbitration costs, and worker support.

United Creatures of the Sea is a volunteer-run union and its officers and organizers will receive no pay or compensation from these funds.