A Caribbean restaurant chain in Ontario is accused of not paying its employees, with at least 12 workers claiming they are owed more than $94,000 in unpaid regular wages, overtime bonuses, as well as day pay holidays and holidays.

Sunrise One Caribbean Restaurant was founded in 1995 in a 690 square foot space on Kingston Road in Scarborough, and has since grown to include more than 25 locations across the Greater Toronto Area.

Last month, a a video emerged from a demonstration outside the chain’s Ajax location, showing several people holding signs claiming the company had not paid its employees.

Since May, Toronto-based non-profit The Workers Action Center (WAC)defends the interests of employees. In a letter obtained by blogTO, the organization alleges the restaurant owes 12 workers $94,984.09 in unpaid wages, with individual amounts ranging between $1,265 and $19,271.

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One employee, who worked as a cook and waiter for three months in early 2024, claimed he was not paid for all the shifts he worked. The letter alleges that even though the employee earned a total of $16,445.31 in regular pay, overtime, holidays and vacation pay, he still owes more than $12,000.

The letter, addressed to the chain’s president, Lance Davenport, alleges that each worker was told they would be paid $12 an hour, after which the checks were “bounced” or not delivered at all.

Executive director Deena Ladd wrote that the organization attempted to reach Davenport several times, although those efforts were unsuccessful.

“If you fail to do so, we will have no choice but to assist these workers in taking further action against you to recover monies owed to them. Please note that each of the above workers may in fact be entitled to more than the amounts above,” says Ladd.

“In addition, several workers were unlawfully retaliated against, either by reducing their hours or being fired, when they questioned their right to be paid. Any worker who was punished for attempted to assert its rights ESA will also seek retaliatory damages if we are unable to resolve this issue promptly.

blogTO has contacted Sunrise One Caribbean restaurant for comment on these allegations.