PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The man in charge of World Cafe Live is pushing back on former employees' accusations that he created a toxic workplace and planned to implement technology that would replace workers.
For a group of former employees, this is the story of a struggle for the soul of an iconic music venue and their jobs. For the new leadership group, it is the story of a philanthropic effort to save that venue using technology.
Last week, workers were fired for walking off the job during a Suzanne Vega concert. They say new management is self-dealing in technology, plans to replace them and has created a toxic workplace.
“He has stake or interest in certain companies that automate certain aspects of, I guess, restaurants or venues,” said Daniel Wurtz, a former bartender at World Cafe.
Joe Callahan is the new CEO. He says he doesn’t want to reduce staff and is pointing his finger at former Chief Operating Officer Kerri Park for creating an atmosphere of misinformation and delaying his efforts to talk with employees.
Park has not responded to KYW’s requests for comment. Callahan says that about two weeks ago, he finally addressed the entire staff.
“We were supposed to present our plan and tell them where the roadmap is for the enterprise. It turned into a technology rodeo. … All they kept asking were questions about AI and robots, and AI doesn't belong in the arts, and AI has no position here,” Callahan said, adding that workers thought AI would take their jobs and that “robots would become bartenders."
“And that information, we don't know where that came from,” Callahan said.
Wurtz remembers it differently.
“He was never really specific as to what his plans were, even though that seemed to be the whole point of having the meeting while he was talking,” Wurtz said.
The employees are planning a protest Wednesday afternoon. Callahan is calling for a press conference.