When I look back on my bartending days, I can’t help but see how badly I was ripped off. Every week seemed to be feast or famine. There were days when I was “in the weeds,” meaning we were swamped with customers. There was hardly a chance to go to the bathroom, let alone take a break to eat. Then, there were days when an occasional customer would trickle in. Mix in moments of being belittled by a customer or an occasional overly intoxicated person. And to do it all for under $3 an hour.
Relying on tips is hard to budget for. If times are hard in your community, there are days you won’t even make minimum wage. Forget about future planning. Donating to causes is difficult. Investing is out of the question. Raises rarely happen. The life of a foodservice employee is extremely difficult.
Saru Jayaraman, the author of One Fair Wage, Behind the Kitchen Door, and Forked, began her career in law working on immigrant rights. She assisted immigrants in training and in helping them advocate for themselves. She didn’t want to only practice law, but fight for public policy to help those overlooked or held down. Then came 9/11.
On the top floor of Tower One held a very popular New York City restaurant. After the towers came down, restaurant workers lost their jobs. Ms. Jayaraman stepped up to help those workers. She began a relief center for the employees. What was supposed to be a temporary fix turned into a larger organization, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United.
Restaurant Opportunities Centers Untied, or ROC United, grew into a national worker-organizing body, which represents worker’s rights and partners with employers and consumers. ROC United documented foodservice livelihoods, which included wage theft, sexual harassment, immigrant vulnerability, and subminimum wages.
The subminimum wage struck a chord with me, since it was something I encountered repeatedly. I bartended at 3 places: a sports bar – type bar, an upscale restaurant, and a massive dance club. Subminimum wage was encountered at all three locations, and I felt stuck. I wish I had had the ROC United to turn to.
Because of ROC United, restaurant workers have someone to turn to and learn about their rights.
I recently attended an event for One Fair Wage, one of Ms. Jayaraman’s passion projects. One Fair Wage is a campaign aimed at abolishing the tipped worker subminimum wage, to ensure that all restaurant employees have livable wages. On a night that saw celebrities Chrissy Teigen, Orlando Bloom, Heidi Gardner, Ciara Miller, Gayle King, Jessel Tank, Alex Newell, Dorinda Medley, and others take on the roles of service staff, the real star of the night was Jessica Ordedana.
Ms. Ordendana bravely stood before a room full of celebrities, socialites, and politicians to share what it is like working as a restaurant employee. Waitstaff encounters belligerent customers, sexual harassment from consumers and bosses, and long hours on their feet for a job that does not even cover rent. Single parents often must work an additional job to cover costs and even live in poverty, all for the hope of a big tip heading their way.
Thankfully, One Fair Wage has started a movement to educate employers and increase wages to a livable amount. To learn more about the One Fair Wage movement, click here.
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