Restaurant Opportunities Centers United

Today, February 21, 2025, marks an unforgettable yet bittersweet day in Michigan history. We celebrate the fact that, on this day, the state's minimum wage will increase to $12.48 an hour and will rise to $15.00 by 2027. This great achievement is the result of years of intensive organizing and relentless court battles from ROC Michigan, the Michigan One Fair Wage Ballot Steering Committee, Mothering Justice, and countless other allies. However, it also marks a critical moment when our state legislators and governor undermined the Michigan Supreme Court ruling to raise the minimum wage, eliminate the subminimum wage, and ensure adequate earned sick leave for all workers. The Michigan House and Senate voted on a bill amending the minimum wage and subminimum wage laws that were supposed to take effect today, February 21, 2025. While the new legislation will raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027, benefiting millions of workers, it fails to fully eliminate the subminimum wage, as mandated by the State Supreme Court. ROC Michigan and the Michigan One Fair Wage Ballot Steering Committee, key plaintiffs in the landmark court case that secured this wage increase, decry the Senate’s decision to support Senate Bill 8 as an affront to public confidence. The Senate’s actions are a signal that special interests take precedence over the needs of the people.

ROC United urgently needs financial support to sustain its programs and continue its fight for economic justice. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful impact on ensuring that restaurant workers receive the training, legal protections, and career advancement opportunities they deserve. https://lnkd.in/eciQaj2s

ROC United, higher education officials, and Baltimore City filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging President Donald Trump’s anti-DEIA Executive Orders: https://lnkd.in/ePZmXXBg A cornerstone of ROC United's work is its effort to end occupational segregation and ensure all workers have access to career ladders in the restaurant industry. Our research shows significant discrimination in the industry that denies women and workers of color access to the most lucrative opportunities. Women are a majority of the industry and over two-thirds of servers, but a minority in major cities where wages are highest. Black workers are over 12% of the industry, but only 5% of bartenders - one of the most lucrative occupations in the industry.

This holiday season, help us support workers who are not provided a living wage, reasonable sick leave, or workplace safety protections this or any other time of the year. Donate today at https://lnkd.in/eCsmErw!

2024 Election ROC United Statement ROC United Interim President Teófilo Reyes releases organizational statement on the results of the 2024 election. Read the full statement?here: https://lnkd.in/exphyMT9

Join us tonight for a special Q&A after the show with ROC and members of the cast.

https://lnkd.in/eJEY6v8G

#NewYork restaurant workers need to know their rights to better navigate their workplaces.?A new report?finds high rates of what it calls "occupational segregation" in the restaurant industry, which can relegate some people to lower-paying jobs. Workers' rights organizations are counteracting this with training programs. Alima Iskakova, a server for Exquisite Staffing, a catering company, said the?CHOW training?from Restaurant Opportunities Centers United is helping her. "Since I completed this training course, I am more confident when it comes to job interviews," she said. "I am more confident - like, when it comes to these types of interviews, plus with all my experience and the knowledge that I got from ROC United, I have a higher income." She was also trained in safe food handling, OSHA certification and other need-to-know information about the restaurant industry. These courses are available in several cities beyond New York. The report also notes that, unlike training offered by organizations such as the National Restaurant Association, these courses prioritize developing restaurant workers' power to support individual career development. The report says racism and sexism abound in the restaurant industry. White men make up a majority of higher-earning positions, such as bartenders. Although these training courses are helpful, Iskakova noteed that not knowing English can be a disadvantage. She said other cultural differences can make this work challenging. "In the hospitality industry, even like when people come here as an immigrant, they don't know the rules, they don't know the laws," she said. "And ROC United, they help us to do the cover letter, resume. There are certain things - like, there is a difference." Another challenge she encountered was the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Iskakova said her work has been interesting, but she's got ambitions outside of food service. Along with photography, she's a communications major at CUNY.

?? Join us in celebrating the success of graduates of the 2024 Admin & Career Exploration Program! ??? 16 remarkable women – survivors of domestic violence and homelessness – recently graduated from the Economic Empowerment Admin & Career Exploration Program at URI's Economic Empowerment Center. For over eight weeks, they embarked on a journey toward economic stability and brighter futures through learning and internships with esteemed organizations like Goodwill Industries Of Greater New York and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. Read the inspiring story here: https://bit.ly/3x5ngG1 #EconomicEmpowerment #FinancialCapabilityMonth #EconomicJustice Teal Inzunza, LMSW Olga Loaiza Angela Thompson Amnah Bashier Eli Plvan-Franke