Fat Salmon, workers settle wage dispute

A Center City sushi restaurant has reached an agreement with five former workers who had accused the business of improperly withholding tips.

The Restaurant Opportunities Center, a Philadelphia nonprofit worker center that assisted the employees, says Fat Salmon will pay $40,000 in illegally withheld tips, damages and attorney fees to the workers.

The center and lawyers for the workers are slated to announce the settlement at a Tuesday news conference.

The workers say Fat Salmon, located at 7th and Walnut streets, improperly withheld 3 to 30 percent of their tips and sometimes used the money the pay credit card usage fees.

The wage dispute became public in May, when three workers -- Diana Allinger, Claire Trindle and Jeff Spencer -- went on strike to protest the practices. Two other employees, Justine Barbary and Sean Schweitzer, also joined the effort to obtain payment for the withheld tips.

"The Restaurant Opportunities Center taught us that if we worked together we could win this case," Trindle said in a statement. She said she hoped the resolution "inspires other workers facing similar situations to stand up for their rights."