NEW YORK, September 17—Since August 9, some 60 cooks, waiters, banquet servers, dishwashers, and other staff have been picketing the Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park in Manhattan demanding higher wages, better working conditions, respect from management, and a union contract.

Boathouse Restaurant owner Dean Poll recently announced he is willing to recognize Hotel Trades Council Local 6 as the workers’ union and rehire at least 18 union supporters, according to the Wall Street Journal. But the company has not agreed to a contract with the workers.

Second from left is striker Alex Medina, who worked in banquets for seven years. “The boss said he would never negotiate with us, but now he is negotiating. So that’s progress, but we won’t go away,” she said.

—PAUL MAILHOT