The future of a pho restaurant in Worcester is uncertain as tensions between management and some staff members have escalated.
On Sunday, Aug. 17, a group of employees at Pho Hien Vuong on Green Street walked out of the restaurant, according to social media posts and an email to MassLive. Among those who walked out were Nhi Lai, the business partner of the restaurant's founder, Khau Huynh.
In an email to MassLive, Lai and some of her co-workers who walked out claim they faced unfair labor conditions at Pho Hien Vuong.
They also wrote that Lai was "dismissed from meaningful decision-making, overextended, and left to carry an unsustainable workload."
"When staff and Nhi raised concerns about overwork, broken equipment, or needing support, those concerns went unaddressed," the letter reads. "Because Nhi's partner controlled the property and recipes, his word was final, even when it dismissed the reality of what staff and Nhi were experiencing. The walkout wasn't impulsive, it was the result of years of exhaustion and unresolved issues."
Tam Le, Huynh's son-in-law, who spoke on the founder's behalf, told MassLive Tuesday that Lai is a 50-50 partner in the business who is equal to Huynh. He also claimed that Huynh was solely responsible for managing the food at the restaurant and that issues related to finances or money were Lai's responsibility.
"His partner always took care of the money," Le said. "My father-in-law doesn't even know how to access the account for the business. He did not handle the cash."
A video of the strike was posted on both TikTok and Instagram Aug. 18 under the social media handle of mecafephin. A description written on the Instagram video reads: "nothing beats walking away from exploitation."
The restaurant closed on Aug. 17 but has since reopened. The workers who walked out, however, have not returned to work.
The staff told MassLive they have daydreamed about leaving the restaurant to start their own coffee shop or deli, which they say aligns with their core values.
"The reality is, this job barely gave us the basics to live on, let alone the savings to build something new right now," the email reads. "But thankfully, we're not alone. We have friends, family and community members who are willing to invest their time and labor into helping us and with that support, we're still manifesting this dream."
As for the pho restaurant, Huynh plans to quit and retire after 38 years of service, according to Le.
"He's not even angry -- he's sad," Le said of his father-in-law's feelings regarding the situation.
Le wants the restaurant to continue operating, but says it needs an update to match modern times; however, he did not provide further details about that. He even said he would support Lai and the others if they decide to start their own business.
"I'll even help them." He said. "You have any questions, call me up. I'll help you."