Fired Matsu Sushi Workers Call For Boycott Of Westport Restaurant

WESTPORT, CT — Two fired chefs from Matsu Sushi were joined by family members, state Sen. Will Haskell (D-26th) and others Tuesday to call for a boycott of the popular Westport restaurant because its owner refuses to reinstate the two despite labor rulings to do so.

Jianming Jiang and Liguo Ding, who had both for the Japanese restaurant for more than 10 years, were fired in December 2017 after they refused to work a 36-hour shift to fill a large catering order.

They filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board and won decisions ordering their reinstatement in July 2018, and again in July 2019 following an appeal by owner Marty Cheng.

Following both rulings, Cheng has refused to reinstate the two. When reached by Patch on Tuesday, Cheng did not say whether he was planning to reinstate Jiang and Ding, instead indicating that he may appeal the ruling again.

"We're running a business here, and their strategy is to scare people and try to make news," Cheng said. "I'm waiting for a final decision."

Ding and Jiang, and their supporters stood in the rain Tuesday in front of the restaurant, holding placards calling on Cheng to pay them and reinstate them.

"He has refused to admit his mistake and continues to ignore the court order," Ding said with the help of an interpreter. "Enough is enough. We just want him to admit his mistake."

In addition to losing their jobs and tens of thousands of dollars in lost wages, Ding and Jiang also are out more than $150,000 they gave to Cheng as an investment in the business, according to Sarah Ahn from the Flushing Workers Center, which helped organize the protest in front of the restaurant.

Haskell said his participation in the demonstration and call for the boycott came down to a simple principle, upholding the law.

"Living in a society with a rule of law means we all abide by a set of principles that protects us from harm," Haskell said. "Well these workers have been harmed. I've sat with them and met with them; they were deprived of dignity and respect. Judge Kenneth Chu ruled in October 2018 that they were wrongfully terminated and deserved reinstatement. On June 28, the NLRB reiterated their position that these workers were not treated fairly and deserve reinstatement."

He continued, "It breaks my heart to be here today, not just because these workers were denied dignity and respect but because I love Matsu Sushi. When I grew up here in Westport, this was a staple for my family. But the sad reality is we cannot continue going here if they continue to mistreat their workers. Here's my message to the owners: listen to the NLRB, reinstate these workers and I will be the first in line for a table. To Westport residents: please do not break the picket line. Instead, get to know these remarkable men whose rights were violated. If you work in Westport, you are a part of this town and we care about how you are treated."

The building that houses Matsu Sushi is owned by a real estate company in which former Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff is a minority owner.

"I can't comment on any conversations the company may or may not have had with the tenant," Joseloff told Patch. "But I can say I deplore exploitation of workers in any situation."