SunTrapp to become Utah’s only unionized bar, announces reopening
The SunTrapp will reopen its doors on December 2, possibly marking the end of a turbulent chapter that saw workers striking, patrons worried for the future of one of Utah’s few remaining queer safe spaces, and ownership ultimately choosing to recognize the workers’ union. The news comes just weeks after the bar abruptly closed on October 31, a shutdown many feared might be permanent. The SunTrapp will become the only bar in Utah to have union representation with its employees.
The conflict began in late September, when a group of employees organized under SunTrapp Workers United and affiliated with CWA Local 7765 asked the bar to voluntarily recognize their union. Workers said they were seeking safer working conditions, more stable scheduling, better wages, and a stronger voice in how the bar operated at a time when anti-LGBTQ threats in the state were escalating. Instead of swift movement toward a vote, tensions rose. Some workers reported being fired and later reinstated, and by early October they walked off the job in protest. For nearly a month, they picketed outside the building every weekend, calling on the bar to acknowledge their collective power.
The SunTrapp announced its closure on November 1, citing financial strain caused by the protests. With the National Labor Relations Board shuttered amid a federal government shutdown, a secret-ballot election was impossible. The stalemate left workers in limbo and left the queer community reeling; the loss of The SunTrapp would have meant losing one of only three designated LGBTQ+ bars in the state, a place known as a refuge for everyone from longtime regulars to young queer people stepping into the community for the first time.
On Instagram, owner Mary Peterson explained why the bar is reopening now — and why they have formally recognized the union.
“The SunTrapp has always been more than a bar; it’s a safe place to gather, to celebrate, to connect, and to be ourselves,” the statement read. “Today, I’ve made the decision to recognize the union representing a portion of our staff… My intention was to move forward with a formal secret-ballot election so that every eligible employee, including those who continued working through the strike, could have a fair and equal say in this process. However, I learned that pursuing an election would be expensive because of disputes regarding voter eligibility and alleged unfair labor practices, and after consulting with legal counsel, I have concluded that the best option is to simply recognize the union as representative of the employees.”
The post continued with an acknowledgment that this was not the path ownership had initially hoped for, but one that ultimately allowed the bar to survive:
“This was not the voluntary path I had hoped for, but it was the only option that protected the possibility of keeping our doors open not just for our staff, but for every person in the LGBTQ+ community who counts on the SunTrapp as a safe and welcoming home.”
The bar announced the reopening with a simple graphic stating “The SunTrapp will reopen Tuesday December 2nd.”
