Workers at Manhattan's "21" Club and La Caravelle have went on strike, protesting the restaurants' push to get their workers to pay more toward their health coverage. The walkouts at these two restaurants are part of a larger contract fight involving 25 New York City restaurants and the Local 100 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, the city's largest union of restaurant workers. Restaurant owners argue that it is only fair to ask workers to begin contributing toward their health premiums, because employers nationwide are facing steeply rising health costs. The union warns that there may be more walkouts if an agreement is not reached soon.
See "Strike Hits 2 of City's Fanciest Restaurants", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, November 4, 2003