Edible Education 101: Understanding Food Workers and the Food System with Saru Jayaraman Video Lecture | Edible Education: Understand Food & its production - Personal Skills

MAN: WELCOME BACK.
(INDISCERNIBLE) A FRIEND AND
MENTOR OF M INE
LAURA TYSON.
(INAUDIBLE) THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR COMING TONIGHT.
(APPLAUSE) THEY DESERVE A LOT OF
CREDIT FOR BEING
INNOVATORS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL
GUEST SARU JAYARAMAN.
(INAUDIBLE)
YOU WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS TO TURN
IT IN.
YOU HAVE TO TURN IT IN ON TIME
TO GET CREDIT.
IF YOU ARE TAKING THE CLASS FOR
A GRADE YOU WILL BE GRADED AS
SUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT?
(INAUDIBLE)
BY A SHOW OF HANDS HOW MANY
PEOPLE THINK A IS THE RIGHT
ANSWER?
HANDS
UP HIGH.
(INAUDIBLE) THAT'S A TRICK QUESTION.
IT MIGHT AFFECT THE FOOD SYSTEM
THAT YOU PARTICIPATED IN
ROHINI REMINDED ME THAT THE WEB SITE
REMOVED ITS ANIMAL WELFARE DATA
BASE THIS MORNING.
ANYBODY READ ABOUT THAT?
THIS IS AGAIN AN EXAMPLE OF A
PUBLIC ASSET THE GOVERNMENT HAS
BEEN DEVELOPING THAT TELLS YOU A
LOT ABOUT OUR OWN PRACTICES AND
ANIMAL HUSBAND DRI AND RESEARCH.
THE WEB SITE IS NO LONGER
AVAILABLE.
THE FOOD SYSTEM IS A GREATER
CAPACITY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S
THE OPPOSITE OF
TRANSPARENCY.
WE MIGHT BE WHISTLING TOGETHER
IN A FEW MINUTES.
TRADE AGREEMENTS, COSTS AND
AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS, WE
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE
HAD A TARIFF, A 20 PERCENT
TARIFF FROM MEXICO ON PRODUCTS
THAT WE
CONSUME THAT IT WOULD COST
$0.20 MORE AT RETAIL.
WE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE U.S.
IMPORTS $2 BILLION OF MEXICAN
BEER A YEAR.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE ADDED
TARIFF ON
THAT WOULD BE.
IMMIGRATION, KIND OF RADICAL
IMMIGRATION REFORMS COULD REALLY
IMPACT THE LABOR THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO HARVEST
CROPS.
A REPORT SAID THE WINE INDUSTRY
IS CONCERNED ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF
THE GRAPES ON THE VINE COULD
NOT BE HARVESTED IF THE MIGRANT
LABOR FORCE WAS NOT
AVAILABLE.
OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
OUR SPEAKER WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT.
WE HAVE AN APPOINTEE COMING IN
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WHO
REPRESENTS THE FAST FOOD
INDUSTRY AND THE VALUES OF THE
FAST FOOD INDUSTRY.
IF YOU READ THE READINGS FOR
TONIGHT YOU SEE THAT PERSPECTIVE
CONTRASTS GREATLY FROM WHAT THE
WORK SARU HAS BEEN DOING.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IT IS
DISPROPORTIONATE RESTAURANT
LABOR SET BACK PRIORITIZATION
AND WELL-BEING, CHANGING THE
LAWS, ELIMINATING LAWS THAT
PROTECT CONSUMERS, STANDARDS,
FOOD SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
PROBABLY INCREASED CONSECRATION
OF POWER IN THE FOOD SYSTEM
AGAIN KIND OF KEEPING THE POWER
STRUCTURES THAT BE IN PLACE AND
MAKING THEM ONLY STRONGER, WHICH
AGAIN LEADS US TO WHAT IS LEFT
ON HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US AS
EATERS AND AS CITIZENS TO BE
ENGAGED AND WELL INTENDED ABOUT
ALL OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE.
I ALSO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE
IDEA WE NEED TO DEVELOP THE
SUPER POWER OF X-RAY VISION AND
START PEERING THROUGH ALL THE
VEILS OF OWE PASS CITY TOWARDS
THE TRUTH IN PRODUCTS.
WE KNOW THAT LABELING LAWS ARE
CONFUSING.
WE KNOW BALLOT MEASURES ARE
OFTEN MADE INTENTIONALLY
CONFUSING WITH CONFLICTING KINDS
OF INPUT, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT
THE STORIES OF HOW OUR FOOD IS
GROWN AND GETS TO US IS NOT
OFTEN CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT.
SO HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME YOU
LEAVE THIS COURSE YOU ARE GOING
TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER SENSE OF
DEVELOPING THE SORT OF SKILL FOR
SKEPTICAL VISION AND TO BE ABLE
TO DISCERN WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE FOOD SYSTEM.
NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU I AM
GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST
SPEAKER.
ACTUALLY I AM GOING TO READ
CHAPTER 3 OF HER BOOK TO YOU
WHILE I AM WAITING.
OR I COULD ALSO ASK IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO
ENTERTAIN THE CLASS TEMPORARILY?
WHAT I DO IN THE MEANTIME, I
KNOW SHE IS ON HER WAY.
SHE SAID SHE IS PARKING.
SHE IS GOING TO WALK IN ANY
MINUTE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL DO?
I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT NEXT WEEK
NOW?
HOW ABOUT THAT?
NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF
NUTRITION SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE
OF PERSONALIZED NUTRITION AND
THE MICROBIOME.
WE HAVE GONE FROM VALUES TO
FARMING TO POLITICS AND THIS
WEEK WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
FOOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT BRING
IT TO YOU.
NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT NUTRITION.
WE HAVE THREE REALLY AMAZING
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THAT ARE
GOING TO BE JOINING US.
ONE IS PROFESSOR BRUCE GERMAN
ONE OF THE FOREMOST EXPERTS IN
THE NUTRITIVE MAKE UP ON HUMAN
MILK, AND HE'S JUST REALLY AN
AMAZING SCIENTIST.
HE'S ON THE BACK OF UC DAVIS.
WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER GARDENER
FROM STANFORD MEDICAL SCHOOL.
CHRISTOPHER IS ALSO A VERY
ACCOMPLISHED RESEARCHER.
YOU WILL SEE SOME OF HIS
ARTICLES IN THE READINGS FOR
NEXT WEEK.
HE HAS DONE PROBABLY MORE WORK
TO DISPEL THE EFFICACY OF FAD
DIETS AND HE WILL TELL US ABOUT
THAT.
WE WILL MOVE INTO UNDERSTANDING
THE MICROBIOME WHICH IS A
RANGE OF BACTERIA THAT INHABITS
OUR GUT AND WHAT THAT IS TELLING
US ABOUT OUR OWN METABOLISM AND
OUR KIND OF WAY THAT WE MIGHT
BE IMMUNE TO OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO
DIFFERENT DISEASE.
WE WILL PAINT A PICTURE OF KIND
OF HOW THIS NEW INFORMATION THAT
IS COMING VERY QUICKLY FROM THE
REALMS OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY ARE GOING TO INFORM
THE WORLD OF PERSONALIZED
NUTRITION.
OKAY?
AND THEN AFTER THAT, LET'S SEE,
THAT IS GOING
TO BE FEBRUARY 15TH.
FEBRUARY 22ND.
WHO KNOWS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO THAT WEEK?
THAT IS GOING TO BE ANNA LAPAY
WHO IS A TREMENDOUS KIND OF
LEADER, ACTIVIST, WRITER,
THINKING ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS AND
HOW TO BE ACTIVE IN THE FOOD
SYSTEM.
SHE COMES FROM A GREAT LINEAGE.
HER MOTHER FRANCIS MORA LAPAY
WROTE THE SENTIMENTAL BOOK DIET
FOR A SMALL PLANET.
HI, SARU, WELCOME.
ANNA WILL BE HERE ON THE 22ND,
BUT TONIGHT, LIVE FROM THE
GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
POLICY, SARU, THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
SARU, I JUST GAVE A LITTLE
INTRO.
I THOUGHT I WOULD DO THIS WHILE
YOU ARE HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
FASCINATED ME NOT ONLY SHE WAS
TRAINED AS A LAWYER, SHE FOCUSES
ON KIND OF SYSTEMATIC
TRANSFORMATION OF THE LABOR SIDE
OF FOOD, BUT WHAT STRUCK ME AND
REALLY IMPRESSED ME WAS SHE'S
ALSO BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR.
LET ME READ YOU THIS LITTLE
EXCERPT FROM THE CONCLUSION OF
HER BOOK CHAPTER 9 WHICH WE
DIDN'T ASSIGN CALLED
THE ROAD FROM HERE.
AFTER ROCK WAS FOUNDED IN THE
MONTHS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11TH,
2001, TRAGEDY.
MY CO FOUNDER AND FELLOW
SURVIVORS FROM WINDOWS ON THE
WORLD THE RESTAURANT AT THE TOP
OF THE TRADE CENTER SHARED A BIG
IDEA.
THEY WANTED TO OPEN A
RESTAURANT TOGETHER.
THEY DREAMED ABOUT WINDOWS NOW
THAT WINDOWS IS GONE THEY WANTED
TO MAKE THEIR DREAM A REALITY.
I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN OPENING
A RESTAURANT.
I TOLD THE WORKERS OUR MISSION
WAS TO IMPROVE WAGES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS IN THE INDUSTRY, NOT
EXPAND THE INDUSTRY.
I WAS FINALLY CONVINCED BY THE
PROMISE OF THE BUSINESS MODEL
THEY DESCRIBED THE RESTAURANT
WOULD SERVE THE MODEL WITH THE
LIVABLE WAGES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS AND COULD ALSO HOUSE
OUR TRAINING PROGRAM TO HELP
LOW WAGE WORKERS ADVANCE TO LIVABLE
WAGE FINE DINING SERVICE IN THE
INDUSTRY.
OVER THE THREE CHALLENGING YEARS
THAT FOLLOWED I WORKED WITH
COLLEAGUES TO DEVELOP THE
CONCEPT DESIGN STRUCTURE OF THE
RESTAURANT IDENTIFY THE
LOCATION, HIRE MANAGEMENT AND
RAISE 2 AND A HALF MILLION
DOLLARS NECESSARY TO OPEN THE
RESTAURANT IN MANHATTAN.
AFTER SEVERAL SETBACKS INCLUDING
A PAINFUL EPISODE IN WHICH A
SMALL SUBSET OF THE WORKERS
PROTESTED US DEMANDING ALL THE
NOT YET EXISTING PROFITS FOR THE
RESTAURANT THEMSELVES THEY
FINALLY OPENED COLORS RESTAURANT
IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FANTASTIC
TO HAVE THIS AND CHANGING THE
BUSINESS ITSELF.
PLEASE WELCOME
SARU JAYARAMAN.
WOMAN:
HOW ARE YOU?
HELLO.
I KNOW IT'S LATE AND I AM LATE.
I AM SORRY.
THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT COMING ON
THE WAY HERE.
HEAR ME OKAY?
GREAT.
I JUST
WANT TO KNOW, HAS ANY ONE IN
THE ROOM HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE?
A FAIR AMOUNT OF YOU.
APOLOGIES TO YOU ALL.
YOU WILL HEAR SOME OF THE SAME
INFORMATION, BUT DEFINITELY THE
WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE THE
ELECTION SO I HAVE A LOT OF NEW
THINGS TO SAY.
GREAT.
SO I WILL START WITH THE PART
THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEARD
BEFORE.
MY NAME IS SARU AND I AM AN
ATTORNEY AND AN ORGANIZER AND
AUTHOR AND I TEACH AT THE
GOLDMAN SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC
POLICY.
KIND OF MAYBE ONE OF THE BIGGEST
MOMENTS OF MY LIFE WAS 9-11.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD PEOPLE WERE
OR WHERE THEY WERE ON 9-11.
I WAS IN NEW YORK.
I WAS WORKING AT AN IMMIGRANT
WORKER ORGANIZING CENTER IN
LONG ISLAND NEW YORK.
I WOULD WORK ON THE ISLAND AND
COME BACK IN THE CITY EVERY
SINGLE DAY AND EAT OUT.
I ATE OUT SOMETIMES THREE TIMES
A DAY.
I WOULD TRY ALL DIFFERENT KINDS
OF CUISINE.
I WAS A CARD CARRYING FOODIE
FOR THE YEARS THAT I LIVED IN
NEW YORK.
BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT PRIOR TO
9-11 FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS OF
EATING OUT LIKE MOST AMERICANS I
NEVER ONCE THOUGHT ABOUT THE
PEOPLE TOUCHING MY FOOD EITHER
COOKING IT OR BRINGING IT TO THE
TABLE.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S TRUE FOR MOST
AMERICANS.
MOST AMERICANS DON'T REALLY
THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY
EAT OUT.
THEY MIGHT THINK ABOUT THE FOOD.
THEY THINK ABOUT THE FOOD QUITE
A BIT THESE DAYS.
THEY MIGHT THINK ABOUT THE
AMBIANCE, THEY MIGHT THINK ABOUT
SO MANY THINGS BUT THEY OFTEN
DON'T THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
THAT WAS ME, EVEN THOUGH I
ACTUALLY DURING THE DAY SPENT
TIME ORGANIZING AND FIGHTING FOR
THE RIGHTS OF RESTAURANT
WORKERS AND CUSTODIAL WORKERS
AND FACTORY WORKERS, IN THE
EVENINGS WHEN I WENT TO EAT OUT
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.
ALL OF THAT CHANGED FOR ME ON
9-11.
ON SEPTEMBER 11TH THERE WAS A
RESTAURANT AT THE TOP OF THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER 1.
ON THAT MORNING THERE WERE ABOUT
73 WORKERS WHO DIED AND 250
WORKERS LOST THEIR JOB.
IF YOU SEE IMAGES FROM
9-11, WE JUST COMMEMORATED THE
15TH ANNIVERSARY A FEW MONTHS
AGO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016, IF YOU
SEE IMAGES FROM 9-11 YOU MAY
SEE SOME WORKERS JUMPING FROM
THE TOP WITH TABLE CLOTHS OR
NAPKINS THINKING IT MIGHT
SOMEHOW EASE THEIR FALL.
NOBODY SURVIVED.
250 WORKERS WERE DISPLACED AND
AFTER 9-11 I WAS ASKED TO COME
TOGETHER WITH THE WORKERS WHO
LOST THEIR JOBS AND THE FAMILIES
OF THE VICTIMS AND START A
RELIEF CENTER, THE RESTAURANT
OPPORTUNITY CENTER ROC.
WHAT STARTED POST 9-11 WITH 250
WORKERS FROM ONE RESTAURANT HAS
GROWN OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.
WE HAVE 25,000 WORKER MEMBERS.
WE ARE ABOUT 200 RESTAURANT
OWNER MEMBERS, RESTAURANT OWNERS
WHO, LIKE ALICE, REALLY
BELIEVED IN WHAT WE ARE DOING,
ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN BETTER WAGES
AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR
WORKERS IN THIS INDUSTRY AND
ALSO HAVE SEVERAL THOUSAND
CONSUMER MEMBERS.
WE HAVE GROWN GEOGRAPHICALLY.
WE ARE NOW IN 15 STATES
INCLUDING HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE ARE NOW GROWING NUMERICALLY.
WE HAVE ALSO GROWN IN TERMS OF
OUR STAKE HOLDER BASE.
WE GREW TO INCLUDE EMPLOYERS AND
CONSUMERS.
THE REASON WE HAD TO GROW OVER
THE LAST 15 YEARS REALLY HAS
BEEN THE EXPLOSION IN
THIS INDUSTRY.
TAKING A STEP BACK, YOU ARE IN A
CLASS ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS, TAKE
A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE FOOD
SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
THE FOOD SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS 20
MILLION WORKERS.
1 IN 5 PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS
AND 1 IN 6 WORKERS AS A WHOLE
THE WHOLE ECONOMY WORK IN FOOD
IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SEGMENT
OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED
STATES.
YOU THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF WHAT
YOU EAT OR PERHAPS IN TERMS OF
AGRICULTURE OR ANIMAL WELFARE.
I THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF THE
FACT THERE IS NO OTHER BIGGER
EMPLOYER IN THE UNITED STATES.
UNFORTUNATELY
THERE IS ALSO NO LOWER PAYING
EMPLOYER.
THE FOOD SYSTEM IS THE LOWEST
PAYER AND THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS
THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
FOR THE 20 MILLION PEOPLE FROM
FARM WORKERS TO POULTRY
PROCESSING TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION,
WAREHOUSE WORKERS TO RESTAURANT
WORKERS, 20 MILLION WORKERS A
FULL 12 MILLION, THE VAST
MAJORITY OF WORKERS IN THE FOOD
SYSTEM, 12 MILLION ARE IN THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ALONE
PUTTING THE REST OF THE FOOD SYSTEM ASIDE
THE RESTAURANT SYSTEM IS THE
SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU PUT ALL OF THE OTHER FOOD
SYSTEMS ASIDE THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ALONE
EMPLOYS 12 MILLION PEOPLE.
1 OF 11 AMERICAN WORKERS WORK IN
A RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.
IT HAS CONTINUED TO EXPLODE OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.
WE ARE GROWING FASTER THAN IN ANY
OTHER NATION ON EARTH.
IT CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE JUST
KEEP EATING OUT IN EVER
INCREASING NUMBERS EVERY DECADE.
EVEN WHEN WE ARE DEPRESSED,
SOMETIMES MAYBE BECAUSE WE ARE
DEPRESSED WE KEEP EATING AND
DRINKING IN EVER INCREASING
NUMBERS.
DESPITE THE INDUSTRY'S EXPLOSION
WE CONTINUE TO BE AS AN
INDUSTRY COLLECTIVELY THE LOWEST
PAID IN THE UNITED STATES.
AS LONG AS WE HAD A FUNCTIONING
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND I SAY
THAT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THE
PERSON NOMINATED FOR THE NEW
SECRETARY OF LABOR WANTS TO SHUT
IT DOWN.
I CAN TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT
THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
WHILE WE HAVE HAD A FUNCTIONING
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
FUNCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS TO PROTECT THE WELFARE OF
WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS TO GATHER DATA ON WORKERS
AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE HAD A FUNCTIONING DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WE HAVE THE
LABOR STATISTICS AND DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR HAS CONSISTENTLY PUT
OUT A LIST EVERY YEAR OF THE 10
LOWEST PAYING JOBS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
EVERY YEAR 7 OF THE 10 LOWEST
PAYING JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES
ARE RESTAURANT JOBS.
EVERY YEAR THE 8TH LOWEST PAYING
JOBS IS A FARMING POSITION. 7 LOWEST PAYING JOBS ARE
DISHWASHERS, COOKS, EVEN
SERVERS, YES, FOUR OF THE 7
LOWEST PAYING JOBS ARE TIP
OCCUPATIONS EVEN TAKING TIPS
INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE MOST DON'T
WORK AT FINE DINING
RESTAURANTS THEY WORK AT I HOP
AND APPLEBEES ACROSS AMERICA.
YOU HAVE THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING SECTOR
PROLIFERATING THE
ABSOLUTE LOWEST PAYING JOBS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
YOU HAVE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER
SPREADING THE LOWEST PAYING
JOBS?
IT MEANS RIGHT NOW ONE IN THREE
AMERICAN WORKERS WORKS FULL-TIME
AND LIVES IN POVERTY AND BY
2020 IT IS EXPECTED THAT ONE IN
TWO AMERICAN WORKERS IS EXPECTED
TO BE WORKING FULL-TIME AND
LIVING IN POVERTY.
1 IN 2.
HALF.
HALF OF ALL AMERICAN WORKERS,
WHICH YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF,
IF YOU CARE ABOUT A SUSTAINABLE
FOOD SYSTEM, IF YOU CARE ABOUT A
FOOD SYSTEM AT ALL, IF YOU CARE
ABOUT THE ECONOMY OF THE
COUNTRY OR THE GDP, IF YOU CARE
ABOUT HAVING LOCALLY SOURCED
ORGANIC CUISINE, YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF HOW ARE WE EVEN GOING TO
HAVE AN ECONOMY AT ALL, LET
ALONE AN ECONOMY THAT CAN
SUPPORT CONSUMPTION OF LOCAL,
ORGANIC CUISINE IF HALF OF THE
NATION CANNOT AFFORD TO EAT.
THAT HALF IS LARGELY WORKING IN
OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
THAT IS WHY WE CONSISTENTLY
IMPLORE THE FOOD SYSTEM AND
PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE FOOD
SYSTEM TO PUT AS THE PRIMARY
GOAL OR OBJECTIVE OR ONE OF THE
PRIMARY GOALS OR OBJECTIVES TO
WORK WITH US TO CHANGE THESE
ABYSMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE, COOK, SERVE,
HARVEST, DELIVER OUR FOOD.
THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN
PARTICULAR HAS A VERY UNIQUE
HISTORY AS TO WHY IT IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST SECTORS WITH THE LOWEST PAYING
JOBS, THE UNIQUE HISTORY IS THE
TRADE LOBBY CALLED THE NATIONAL
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
WE CALL IT THE OTHER NRA.
IT IS THE ASSOCIATION THAT IS
LED BY ALL OF THE
(INDISCERNIBLE) CHAINS.
UNTIL RECENTLY THE LEADERS IN
THIS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OLIVE
GARDEN, CAPITOL GRILL
STEAKHOUSE, EDDY V.
THIS IS A CHAIN.
THE LARGEST IN FACT EMPLOYER --
LARGEST FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT
COMPANY IN THE WORLD.
OLIVE GARDEN PARENT COMPANY.
MCDONALDS, OF COURSE.
TACO BELL, KFC AND PIZZA HUT.
AND DISNEY
THESE ARE THE FOUR LEADERS OF
THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION THAT HAS BEEN
LOBBYING TO KEEP WAGES
AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
ANOTHER COMPANY IS CKE
RESTAURANTS THEY OWN CARLS
JUNIOR, HARDEE'S, GREEN BURRITO
A COUPLE OF OTHER BRANDS.
THE CEO OF THAT FAST FOOD
COMPANY HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO BE
THE SECRETARY OF LABOR IN THE
UNITED STATES, PROTECTING THE
RIGHTS OF WORKERS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE FOUND THAT
HIS RESTAURANTS, HALF OF HIS
RESTAURANTS ARE IN VIOLATION OF
BASIC WAGE AND HOUR LAWS AND
WORKERS IN HIS RESTAURANTS
EXPERIENCE NEARLY TWICE THE RATE
OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF ALL
OTHER RESTAURANT CHAINS.
WHEN RESTAURANTS ALONE HAVE
FIVE TIMES SEXUAL HARASSMENTS
THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
YOU HAVE A TRADE LOBBY THAT IS
BASICALLY TAKING OVER THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WHOSE MAIN
MISSION IS TO PROTECT WORKERS.
GETTING A SEAT IN THE
GOVERNMENT.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
WHO IS THE OTHER NRA WHAT ARE
THEIR POLITICS.
IF YOU WORK, IF YOU WIND UP
WORKING NOW OR LATER AT ALL,
YOU WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE
POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR WHICH WILL BE LED
ESSENTIALLY BY THE OTHER NRA.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW
WHO IS THE OTHER NRA?
THE OTHER NRA TURNS OUT ITS
HISTORY DOESN'T DATE BACK 30 OR
50 YEARS IT DATES BACK 150 YEARS
TO DO EMANCIPATION OF THE
SLAVES.
IT TURNS OUT TIPPING IS A
PRACTICE, DID NOT ORIGINATE IN
THE UNITED STATES IT ORIGINATED
IN EUROPE.
WHEN IT CAME TO THE STATES, IT
WAS ACTUALLY RIGHT AROUND THE
TIME OF EMANCIPATION.
IT WAS BROUGHT BY RICH AMERICANS
TRAVELING TO EUROPE COMING BACK
AND TRYING TO SHOW OFF THEY
KNEW THE RULES OF EUROPE.
THERE WAS MASSIVE RESISTANCE TO
THE IDEA OF TIPPING.
THERE WAS A MASSIVE POPULOUS
MOVEMENT SO POPULAR, SO
SUCCESSFUL SIX STATES IN THE
UNITED STATES PASSED COMPLETE
PROHIBITION ON TIPPING INCLUDING
WASHINGTON STATE ON OUR COAST.
COMPLETE PROHIBITIONS ON
TIPPING.
THEY SAID TIPPING IS UNAMERICAN,
IT IS UNDEMOCRATIC.
IN FACT THE FAMOUS FRENCH WRITER
CAME TO THE UNITED STATES,
STUDIED OUR DEMOCRACY, ENAMORED
WITH OUR DEMOCRACY.
HE WROTE THAT ONE OF THE HALL MARKS
AT THE TIME WAS WE DIDN'T TIP.
TIPPING WAS A VESTIGE OF THE FEUDAL
SYSTEM HE SAID AND THE FACT THAT
AMERICANS REJECTED TIPPING
MAKES AMERICA SO MUCH MORE
DEMOCRATIC THAN EUROPE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO US?
HOW DID WE END UP WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW?
WHAT HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE
TIPPING CAME RIGHT AROUND
EMANCIPATION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS
THIS REALLY GREAT POPULOUS
MOVEMENT SAYING YOU REJECT THIS
PRACTICE, THE MOVEMENT ACTUALLY
SPREAD TO EUROPE AND THE LABOR
MOVEMENT PICKED IT UP IN EUROPE
AND GOT RID OF TIPPING IN EUROPE
SAYING THIS IS A VESTIGE OF THE
SYSTEM.
IN THE UNITED STATES WE WENT IN
THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION ARGUED FOR THE RIGHT
TO HIRE NEWLY FREED SLAVES AND NOT PAY THEM
ANYTHING AT ALL AND LET THEM
LIVE ON CUSTOMER TIPS.
THE IDEA THAT A WORKER COULD BE
PAID NOTHING AT ALL AND LIVE ON
TIPS WAS THE VERY FIRST MINIMUM
WAGE LAW THAT PASSED IN 1938 WHICH
GIVES TIPPED WORKERS $0 MINIMUM
WAGE.
THE $0 MINIMUM WAGE IN 1938 TO A
WHOPPING $2.13 AN HOUR AND IT IS
BETWEEN 2
AND 7.50 IN 43 STATES.
CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON, NEVADA,
MONTANA AND ALASKA.
WE JUST WON MAINE.
BUT THOSE 7 STATES HAVE REJECTED
THIS SYSTEM FOR 40 YEARS.
IN FACT HERE IN CALIFORNIA WE
HAVE THE LONGEST PRACTICE OF
REJECTING THIS LEGACY, 41 YEARS
OF GETTING RID OF THE LOWER WAGE
FOR TIPPED WORKERS.
WE FIND IN DOING RESEARCH THESE 7
STATES THAT GOT RID OF THE
SYSTEM ACTUALLY HAVE HIGHER
RESTAURANT SALES PER CAPITA,
HIGHER JOB GROWTH IN THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, HIGHER JOB
GROWTH AMONG TIPPED
WORKERS. THEY ARGUE THAT IF
THEY PAID WORKERS IN THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY.
NOBODY WOULD TIP ANY MORE.
TURNS OUT WE HAVE HIGHER TIPPING
AVERAGES ON THE WEST COAST.
SO THAT'S NOT TRUE EITHER.
TURNS OUT SAN FRANCISCO HAS THE
HIGHEST TIPPING AVERAGE THAN ANY
CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
ALASKA HAS THE HIGHEST TIPPING
AVERAGE OF ANY STATE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
WE TIP BETTER.
WE HAVE A BIGGER, FASTER,
GROWING INDUSTRY AND WE HAPPEN
TO REQUIRE THE INDUSTRY TO PAY
THE WORKERS A FULL MINIMUM WAGE
WITH TIPS ON TOP, WHICH IS
ACTUALLY HOW IT OCCURRED IN
FEUDAL EUROPE.
THEY GOT A WAGE FROM THEIR
EMPLOYER AND AN INCOME FROM
THEIR EMPLOYER AND TIPS WERE
ALWAYS GRATUITIES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION IT
IS EXTRA.
ALWAYS ON TOP OF THE WAGE.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
NEW MEXICO IS 2.13.
ARIZONA IS 3 OR 4 BUCKS AN HOUR.
ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES
ARE STILL IN THIS TWO TIERED
WAGE SYSTEM THIS LEGACY OF
SLAVERY.
HOW IS IT THEY HAVE GOTTEN AWAY
FOR BASICALLY A CENTURY THE
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION ARGUING
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THEIR
WORKERS, CUSTOMERS SHOULD PAY
THEIR WORKERS.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CHAINS
HERE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT
MADE THE ARGUMENT.
THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID IT IS OKAY
WE DON'T PAY THEM A WAGE.
THEY WORK IN FANCY STEAKHOUSES.
THEY MAKE 100 OR 150,000 A YEAR.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE
150,000 A YEAR IN FANCY FINE
DINING RESTAURANTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT GOVERNMENT DATA,
70 PERCENT OF THE WORKERS IN
FACT ARE WOMEN.
THERE ARE WOMEN WORKING AT I HOP
AND APPLEBEES AND OLIVE GARDEN
AND DENNY'S.
THE WOMEN'S MEDIAN WAGE IS 8.50
INCLUDING TIPS.
THEY SUFFER FROM THREE TIMES THE
POVERTY RATE AND USE FOOD
STAMPS AT DOUBLE THE RATE BUT
WORST OF ALL THE FACT THAT THEY
ACTUALLY
HAVE THE WORST RATES OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WORKING AT I
HOP OR APPLEBEES OR DENNY'S AND
EARNING 2.13 AN HOUR IN ALBUQUERQUE
OR TEXAS OR PRETTY MUCH ANY
WHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY YOU
HAVE TO TOLERATE WHATEVER A
CUSTOMER MIGHT DO TO YOU HOWEVER
THEY TOUCH YOU OR TREAT YOU OR
TALK TO YOU BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER
IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
THE CUSTOMER PAYS YOUR BILLS NOT
THE EMPLOYER.
WE DID A TON OF RESEARCH ON
THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN SURVEYING 8000
WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE DID A NEW SURVEY AND FOUND
OUT WOMEN IN STATES LIKE NEW
MEXICO WHERE THE WAGE IS 2.13 AN
HOUR ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AS WOMEN IN CALIFORNIA WHERE
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TOLERATE ALL
KINDS OF INAPPROPRIATE CUSTOMER
BEHAVIORS.
WOMEN IN STATES LIKE NEW MEXICO
WERE THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE
ENCOURAGED TO SHOW MORE
CLEAVAGE, WEAR TIGHTER CLOTHING,
IN FACT WHILE WE WERE DOING THE
STUDY THE INDUSTRY ANNOUNCED A
NEW INDUSTRY SEGMENT CALLED THE
BREASTAURANT.
IT IS A NEW INDUSTRY SEGMENT.
IT IS NOT JUST HOOTERS ANY MORE.
IT IS TWO OF THE FASTEST GROWING
CHAINS IN AMERICA.
A COMPANY CALLED TILTED KILT AND
A COMPANY CALLED TWIN PEAKS.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT
EXACTLY ARE WE SELLING IN
RESTAURANTS?
ARE WE SELLING FOOD OR SELLING
WOMEN'S BODIES.
I AM ACTUALLY NOT JUST TALKING
ABOUT HOOTERS AND TWIN PEAKS, I
AM TALKING ABOUT CHILIES WHERE
THE SERVERS ARE MOSTLY WOMEN AND
IT IS PROPORTIONALLY WOMEN OF
COLOR AND THEY WEAR TIGHT
T-SHIRTS WITH THE WORD FRESH
WRITTEN ACROSS THE BREASTS.
THAT'S A FAMILY RESTAURANT.
YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT ARE WE
SELLING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
WHAT ARE WE TELLING WOMEN IN
AMERICA, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF
THEIR WORTH?
I HAVE GIVEN THIS TALK ABOUT
1,000 TIMES LITERALLY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
EVERY TIME I GIVE THIS TALK A
WOMAN COMES UP TO ME, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE OLDER AUDIENCES, I AM
AN IBM EXECUTIVE OR CORPORATE
LAWYER OR I HAVE HAD A DOCTOR
APPROACH ME, I HAVE BEEN
SEXUALLY HARASSED RECENTLY IN MY
CURRENT JOB AND I DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS
NEVER AS BAD AS IT WAS WHEN I
WAS A YOUNG WOMEN WORKING IN A
RESTAURANT.
ONE IN TWO AMERICANS WORKS IN
THIS INDUSTRY AT SOME POINT IN
THEIR LIFETIME.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER WORKED
IN THE INDUSTRY?
LOOK AROUND THE ROOM.
1 IN 2 AMERICANS HAVE WORKED IN
THE INDUSTRY AT SOME POINT IN
THEIR LIFETIMES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT IS WHEN THEY
ARE YOUNG, MAYBE THEY MOVE ON
TO SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE FOR THE MAJORITY
OF RESTAURANT WORKERS BY THE
WAY.
OF THE 12 MILLION RESTAURANT
WORKERS NEARLY 9 MILLION ARE
ADULTS WITH CHILDREN.
THERE'S A SEGMENT OF US THAT
WORK IN RESTAURANTS IN HIGH
SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR GRADUATE
SCHOOL, AND BASED ON THE
COMMENTS I HEARD FROM WOMEN IN
OTHER PROFESSIONS WE NOW KNOW
THE INDUSTRY SETS THE STANDARD
FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN TERMS OF WHAT
IS ACCEPTABLE, TOLERABLE, LEGAL,
ETHICAL, SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN
THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT DONALD
TRUMP HAD GRABBED WOMEN, PROUDLY
BRAGGED ABOUT IT ON THE VIDEO
WE HAD HUNDREDS OF THEM WRITE IN
TO US ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
A REGULAR COMES INTO THE
RESTAURANT AND GRABBED ME IN THE
VAGINA.
MY BOSS SAID I HAVE TO PUT UP
WITH IT AND THAT'S HOW I MAKE
MORE MONEY.
I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND
TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS.
MILLIONS OF WORKERS AND WOMEN IN
AMERICA, MILLIONS, IT'S NOT
JUST THAT THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO
ACCEPT SEXUAL
HARASSMENT THEY ARE TOLD THEIR
VALUE, THEIR WORTH IS BASED ON
HOW MUCH A MAN WANTS TO GRAB
THEM.
WHETHER THEY DO WELL ON THE JOB
IN TERMS OF MAKING MORE MONEY IN
TIPS IS ENTIRELY BASED ON
WHETHER A MAN LIKE DONALD TRUMP
WANTS TO GRAB THEM.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, IS IT
SUCH A
FAR STRETCH THEN, TO SEE A LOT OF
WOMEN VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO
HEAR WOMEN VOTING FOR DONALD
TRUMP.
IF IT IS SUCH A STRETCH WHEN WE
HAVE ALLOWED MILLIONS OF WOMEN
TO GROW UP BELIEVING THEIR
WORTH IS BASED ON WHETHER DONALD
TRUMP WANTS TO GRAB THEM.
BASED ON ALL OF THIS INFORMATION
IN 2013 WE LAUNCHED A
CAMPAIGN CALLED ONE FAIR WAGE.
ALL ABOUT CALLING ON THE NATION
TO FOLLOW THE GREAT MODEL THAT
CALIFORNIA AND OREGON AND
WASHINGTON HAS SET GETTING RID
OF THE SLAVERY AND LOWER WAGE FOR
TIP WORKERS AND PAYING EVERYBODY
ONE WAGE JUST LIKE ALL OTHER
INDUSTRIES ARE REQUIRED TO DO?
WHY IS IT THE FOOD SYSTEM AND
THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS THE
ONE INDUSTRY THAT IS EXEMPTED
FROM ACTUALLY PAYING ITS OWN
WORKERS.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF
THIS TRADE LOBBY.
WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES AS
CUSTOMERS WHY DO WE ESSENTIALLY
SUBSIDIZE A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR
INDUSTRY AND LARGELY TALKING
ABOUT THE CHAINS HERE FOR WHICH
THE MULTI BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY
REQUIRES CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR
WORKERS WAGES THROUGH TIPS AND WORKERS
SURVIVAL THROUGH TAX PAYER DOLLARS.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?
I MEAN THAT EVERY YEAR TAXPAYERS
SPEND $16.5 BILLION BILLION WITH A B
ON MEDICAID, FOOD STAMPS AND
OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE FOR
RESTAURANT WORKERS ALONE.
NOT BECAUSE THESE ARE LAZY
PEOPLE SITTING AROUND DOING
NOTHING.
THEY ARE WORKING 2 AND 3
RESTAURANT JOBS.
THEY ARE WORKING MORE THAN MOST
PEOPLE IN AMERICA AND STILL
CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE ENDS MEET
ON A $2 WAGE TIPPED OR A $7 WAGE IF
THEY ARE IN THE KITCHEN.
WE ARE FUNDING THESE WORKERS
SURVIVAL THROUGH TAX PAYER DOLLARS
AND FUNDING THE WAGES THROUGH TIPS.
THAT'S WHY WE LAUNCHED THE
CAMPAIGN, WE DID A TON OF
ORGANIZING, PRESS, WE PUT OUT
RESEARCH AND TALKED TO
LEGISLATORS.
WE GOT BILLS INTRODUCED IN A
DOZEN STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY
AT LEAST.
THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT
HAPPENED IN 2015 IS WE WERE ABLE
TO SIT DOWN WITH SOME OF THE
LEADERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEN AS
SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE FINE
DINING EMPLOYERS PEOPLE LIKE A
MAN NAMED DANNY MEYER AND TOM
CORUKIO WERE ABLE TO SIT DOWN
WITH THEM AND TELL YOU
EVERYTHING I HAVE TOLD YOU NOW.
THEY SAID WE HATED THIS SYSTEM
FOR 20-YEARS.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE WORKED WITH THEM OVER A
FOUR-MONTH PERIOD IN 2015 TO
ACTUALLY MOVE TO ONE FAIR WAGE.
GET RID OF THE LOWER WAGE FOR
TIP WORKERS THEY DECIDED TO GET
RID OF TIPPING ALL TOGETHER
WHICH WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF
BECAUSE THEY DID IT IN A
TRANSPARENT WAY.
THEY GOT THE WORKERS THE EXACT
WAGE THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
THROUGH TIPS.
WE HEAR OTHER COMPANIES WHO DO
IT OVERNIGHT AND WORKERS LOSE
OUT SO WE ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT.
IN THIS CASE WE WORKED WITH THE
EMPLOYERS TO MOVE IN THIS
DIRECTION.
AFTER THEY DID WE COUNTED 189
RESTAURANT COMPANIES FOLLOW IN
THEIR DIRECTION.
THERE'S STILL NEGATIVE ATTENTION
TO RESTAURANTS GOING BACK TO A
TRADITIONAL SYSTEM.
WE BY OUR COUNT THAT'S ONLY
ABOUT 8 PERCENT OF RESTAURANTS
THAT HAVE MOVED TO THIS MODEL OF
GETTING RID OF THE LOWER WAGE
TIP WORKERS AND GETTING RID OF
TIPPING ALL TOGETHER.
SO THIS MOVE BY EMPLOYERS GOT
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES.
WE WERE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES,
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF GETTING
RID OF THE LOW WAGE FOR TIPPED,
WORKERS.
THERE WAS A MASS EXODUS FROM THE
OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS TO WHAT
WE CALL THE HIGH ROAD TO
PROFITABILITY.
THAT'S HOW WE HAVE CREATED THE
ASSOCIATION OF RESTAURANTS OVER
200 OF THEM THAT NOW ARE WORKING
WITH US HAVE COME WITH US WITH
STATE LEGISLATURES TO SAY WE
BELIEVE IN HIGHER WAGES AND
BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS
BECAUSE IT IS BETTER FOR THE
BOTTOM LINE.
WE SEE WE HAVE LESS
TURNOVER, HIGHER PROFITABILITY,
HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY, PEOPLE STAY
LONGER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO
DEVELOP THEIR PROFESSION.
ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT IT IS
ABOUT.
PROFESSIONALIZING THE INDUSTRY
SO WORKERS ARE ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED
AS THE SKILLED CRAFT PROFESSIONALS
THAT THEY ARE.
SO THAT MADE EXTRAORDINARY
HEADLINES.
ALL OF THAT LED TO NOVEMBER 8TH
WHEN IN MY OPINION WE
EXPERIENCED A LOT OF HORRIFIC
THINGS, VERY HORRIFIC THINGS,
BUT WE IN OUR WORLD ALSO
EXPERIENCED A BIG VICTORY WHICH
IS THAT MAINE BECAME THE 8TH
STATE IN THE UNION AND THE FIRST
EAST COAST STATE TO FULLY
GET RID OF THE LOW WAGE FOR
TIPPED WORKERS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
HOW DID PEOPLE VOTE FOR THIS?
IT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN MAINE.
FOUND THAT MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR
OUR BALLOT MEASURES THAN EITHER
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE BALLOT
MEASURE IN RURAL MAINE THAN A
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND MORE VOTED
YES THAN FOR HILLARY.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR BOLD
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE ON A WIDE
RANGE OF ISSUES.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS ON THE
MAIN BALLOT THAT ALSO WON WAS
THE DEBT FREE BALLOT MEASURE
THAT TAXED THE RICH TO PAY FOR
COLLEGE TUITION IN MAINE.
WHITE RURAL MAINE VOTED FOR BOLD
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES WHICH WE
THINK HAS TO BE THE WAY OF THE
FUTURE.
ALSO ON NOVEMBER 8TH DONALD
TRUMP GOT ELECTED.
THAT CERTAINLY IMPACTED OUR
INDUSTRY AS WELL.
SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION
SEVERAL OF THE RESTAURANTS THAT
WERE PART OF THE ASSOCIATION GOT
TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO WRITE A
JOINT LETTER TO PRESIDENT ELECT
TRUMP AT THAT TIME.
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE WORST
LABOR SHORTAGE IN RECENT
HISTORY IN OUR INDUSTRY.
I WILL PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND
TELL YOU WHY WE WERE GOING
THROUGH THE WORST LABOR
SHORTAGE, BECAUSE OUR INDUSTRY
CONTINUES TO EXPLODE, CONTINUES
TO PAY A LOW WAGE AND WORKERS
CANNOT SURVIVE ON THESE WAGES.
COMPANIES LIKE PANERA ARE SAYING
HELP US WE CAN'T RETAIN OUR
WORKERS.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
WE HAVE VERY CLEAR ANSWERS FOR
THEM.
IF YOU PAY PEOPLE BETTER THEY
WILL ACTUALLY STAY.
IF YOU CREATE -- A PATH A CAREER
LADDER THEY WILL STAY.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN RESTAURANT
AFTER RESTAURANT TO PAVE THE HIGH
ROAD TO PROFITABILITY.
THEY WROTE AN OPEN LETTER TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING WE
COLLECTIVELY CALL ON YOU TO STOP
THE DISCUSSION OF HATE AND -- WE ARE THE
LARGEST EMPLOYER OF IMMIGRANTS
AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
1.3 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN
OUR INDUSTRY WE ARE THE SINGLE
LARGEST EMPLOYER OF
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.
WE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF EVERYBODY.
SO IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
CREATING A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
FOR ANY OF THE WORKERS OR ALL OF
THE WORKERS YOU ARE GOING TO
HURT AN INDUSTRY OR PERHAPS EVEN
CRIPPLE OR SHUT DOWN AN
INDUSTRY THAT IS ALREADY
EXPERIENCING THE WORST LABOR
SHORTAGE IN RECENT MEMORY.
YOU WROTE -- WE WROTE THIS
LETTER CREATING A PLACARD SAID
SANCTUARY RESTAURANTS A PLACE AT
THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE.
WE LAUNCHED THIS A MONTH AGO AND
SINCE WE LAUNCHED OVER 200
RESTAURANTS HAVE SIGNED ON
INCLUDING SOME VERY HIGH PROFILE
RESTAURANTS.
NOW WE GOTTEN 3,000 CONSUMERS
SIGNED ON AS WELL.
PEOPLE ARE COMING FORWARD
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FEELING LIKE
IT'S A TIME FOR CHANGE.
I THINK THIS TO ME IS MY MESSAGE
BOTH FOR THE RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY, THINKING ABOUT FOOD
WORKERS BUT ALSO TO THE BROADER
MOVEMENT AROUND FOOD.
IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO BE
MORE BOLD AND MORE AMBITIOUS
THAN NOW, IT IS NOW.
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME TO BE
MORE BOLD AND AMBITIOUS THAN
NOW.
OUR INDUSTRY IS EXPERIENCING
TREMENDOUS PAIN, TREMENDOUS FEAR
AND YET PEOPLE ARE COMING
TOGETHER AND STANDING STRONG
AND SAYING NO, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE
TO STAND UP FOR OUR WORKERS AND
WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR
CREATING A WELCOMING PLACE AT
THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE OF ALL
RACES, RELIGIONS, OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS.
ULTIMATELY THEY BELIEVE THE
RESTAURANT, THE RESTAURANT THAT
STARTED THIS BY TELLING YOU WE
EAT OUT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE
ON EARTH.
TO ME IT MEANS WE CELEBRATE OUR
CULTURE IN RESTAURANTS MORE THAN
ANY OTHER NATION ON EARTH.
RELIGION HAS DECLINED.
WE DON'T HAVE BOWLING TEAMS ANY
MORE.
TRULY THE GATHERING PLACES IN
AMERICA ARE RESTAURANTS.
THIS COULD BE THIS WELCOMING
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT
FAITHS COME TOGETHER AND
HEAR EACH OTHER AND LISTEN TO
EACH OTHER AND MEET
EACH OTHER WHERE THEY ARE AT,
OR CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH
EXPLOITING PEOPLE, TAKING OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
GETTING RID OF MINIMUM WAGE. ANDY PUZDER, THE CEO OF CARL'S JR
AND I HAVE TO SPEND YOU
A MINUTE TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS
WONDERFUL MAN.
CAN I PULL SOMETHING UP?
I HOPE THIS IS NOT OFFENSIVE TO YOUR YOUNG
EYES.
HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN CARL
JUNIOR'S AD?
HE IS A MAN WHO
-- THANK YOU.
I HOPE I AM NOT OFFENDING
ANYBODY WITH THESE ADS.
OFFENDING IN A
DIFFERENT WAY
THESE ARE CARLS JUNIOR'S ADS.
OVER THE HOLIDAY WE SURVEYED --
WE DID AN ONLINE EXPERIMENT.
WE PUT OUT -- THANK YOU.
OH, IT'S NOT?
MAN: BECAUSE I HAVE TO DRAG IT.
OVER THE HOLIDAYS WE HEARD
HE WAS NOMINATED FOR
SECRETARY OF LABOR WE PUT OUT A
CALL TO CARL JUNIORS TO FILL OUT
A SURVEY FROM WORKERS.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A
RESPONSE.
900 WORKERS RESPONDED TO US IN A
TWO-WEEK PERIOD BETWEEN
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.
I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME WHILE YOU
ARE LOOKING AT THESE IMAGES.
900 WORKERS RESPONDED IN TWO WEEK
PERIODS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND
NEW YEARS.
564 FILLED OUT SURVEYS.
THE VAST MAJORITY WERE YOUNG
WOMEN.
THE MAN HIRES TEENAGED GIRLS.
90 PERCENT OF THEM TOLD US THEY
EXPERIENCED SEVERE SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IN THE FORM OF
CUSTOMERS COMING IN AND SAYING,
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE THE GIRLS IN
THE AD BUT I WILL TAKE YOU
ANYWAY AND FOLLOWING THEM OUT
INTO THE PARKING LOT.
GRABBING THEM, TRYING TO FOLLOW
THEM HOME.
THESE ARE 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLD
GIRLS.
BEYOND THAT WE HEARD FROM
WORKERS WHO SAID, CO-WORKERS ARE
GRABBING ME, TOUCHING ME, I
COMPLAINED AND MY MANAGER SAID
SHUT UP OR YOU GET FIRED.
WE HEARD FROM WORKERS WHOSE
PAYCHECKS WERE STOLEN BY THEIR
MANAGERS.
WE HEARD FROM WORKERS WHO
BASICALLY WERE TOLD THAT THEY
WOULDN'T GET PAID FOR WEEKS OR
THAT THEY JUST WOULD NEVER GET
OVER TIME.
IN FACT IF THEY WORKED MORE THAN
40-HOURS WHICH WOULD QUALIFY
YOU FOR OVER TIME THEY'D GET PENALIZED
WORKERS STARTED WORKING FOR
40-HOURS BUT CLOCKING OUT AND
NOT GETTING PAID AT ALL.
NO BREAKS.
HALF OF HIS RESTAURANTS HAVE
BEEN CHARGED BY THE VERY
DEPARTMENT THAT HE IS NOW TAKING
OVER.
SO THIS IS THE MAN, THIS IS THE
MAN WHO IS NOW IN CHARGE OF THE
WELFARE OF ALL WORKERS IN
AMERICA AND ALL WOMEN WORKERS IN
AMERICA.
HE WILL BE CONFIRMED BY THE
SENATE, OR NOT ON FEB 16.
THAT'S THE CURRENT DATE BEING
SET FOR HIM.
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY
IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO BE
BOLD IT IS NOW.
SOME HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR THE
CORPORATE PLAYERS THAT CONTROL THE FOOD
SYSTEM.
WHO ARE THE PLAYERS THAT CONTROL
OUR DEMOCRACY FOR A LONG
TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT WORK
ANY MORE.
IT IS STARING US IN THE FACE.
IT IS NOT LIKE CORPORATIONS ARE
BEHIND THE SCENES ANY MORE AND
CONTROLLING THE FOOD SYSTEM.
THEY'VE TAKEN OVER THE
GOVERNMENT
THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION HAS A SEAT IN THE
CABINET.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE
OVERT.
ANDY PUZDER SAID I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
DAY I CAN REPLACE ALL OF THE
WORKERS WITH ROBOTS, ROBOTS
DON'T COMPLAIN.
THEY ARE NEVER LATE.
ROBOTS -- YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF WHY HE DIDN'T DO IT,
WHY HE DIDN'T REPLACE WORKERS
WITH ROBOTS.
THESE ARE THE COMMENTS HE MADE.
WE DON'T NEED MINIMUM WAGE.
ALL GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS
BAD.
CERTAINLY HE DEFENDED THESE, TAKEN
TO TASK MANY TIMES FOR THE ADS.
HE SAID I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
UGLY WOMEN DON'T SELL BURGERS. THOSE WERE HIS
EXACT WORDS.
THIS IS THE MAN PROTECTING WORKERS
IN AMERICA.
IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO USE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME
TOGETHER AS AN INDUSTRY AND SAY
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH THE NRA IS NOT
OUR INDUSTRY.
THE INDUSTRY IS SOMETHING BETTER
AND DIFFERENT AND WONDERFUL.
I WOULD SAY THE SAME FOR THE
FOOD SYSTEM.
THIS IS NOT OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING WONDERFUL
AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
ONLY IF WE COLLECTIVELY ARE
BEING VERY BOLD, VERY
PROGRESSIVE, DEMANDING POLICY
CHANGE, DEMANDING THAT PEOPLE
LIKE THIS DON'T TAKE OVER OUR
GOVERNMENT, DEMANDING THE
DEMOCRACY, INSTEAD OF STAYING IN OUR SILOS
AND WORKING ON OUR ISSUES WE HAVE
TO COME TOGETHER, NOW IF NOT
EVER, NOW MORE THAN EVER TO
DEMAND THIS KIND OF POLICY
CHANGE.
IF THERE WAS ANY EXAMPLE IT'S OUR
INDUSTRY, BECAUSE I WILL CLOSE
BY SAYING, 200 YEARS AGO THERE
WERE TWO INDUSTRIES, IN FACT,
THAT SAID DON'T YOU DARE TAKE
AWAY OUR BUSINESS MODEL HUNDRED FIFTY
YEARS AGO.
WE WILL NEVER SURVIVE IF WE HAVE
TO PAY OUR OWN WORKERS' WAGES.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT IF
WE PAY OUR OWN WORKER'S WAGES.
WHY WOULD YOU TAKE SLAVERY AWAY
FROM US?
WE AS A NATION DECIDED THAT'S
NOT A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
MODEL.
IT IS INHUMANE, IT IS IMMORAL.
IT DOESN'T WORK AS A BUSINESS
MODEL.
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING 150 YEARS
LATER AND INDUSTRIES ESSENTIALLY
SAY THE SAME THING IN THE FORM
OF ANDREW PUZDER WE SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO PAY OUR OWN WORKER'S
WAGES PRICES WILL GO UP.
IT IS A HUGE FALLACY.
PRICES WILL GO WAY UP, JOBS WILL
BE LOST.
ARE WE GOING TO SAY ABSOLUTELY
NOT AS WE DID 150 YEARS AGO?
THAT'S AN UNSUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
MODEL IT'S GOT TO CHANGE OR ARE
WE GOING TO ROLL OVER AND LET
THEM TAKE OVER OUR DEMOCRACY?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
I AM GOING TO SHUT UP.
THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
MAN: DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER
MICROPHONE?
MAN: WE UNDERSTOOD YOU WERE
GOING TO GET ON THE AIRPLANE IN
15 MINUTES.
WE ARE HOLDING THE PLANE FOR
YOU.
WOMAN: I AM GOING TOMORROW.
MAN: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU
WITH US.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR OWN
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND
TRANSFORMATION.
YOU ARE WELL PREPARED,
ARTICULATE, PASSIONATE, YOU HAVE
THIS LIFE OF ORGANIZING.
I WAS REALLY STRUCK WITH THE
BOOK AND THIS NEW STANDARD AND
HOW YOU EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFIED
SOME OF THE REAL LEADERS IN THE
FOOD INDUSTRY TO COME OVER,
WHICH WASN'T
EASY.
CAN YOU CHECK
--
TRICKY.
YOU HAVE EFFECTIVELY DEVELOPED A
SYSTEM
THAT IS NOT JUST BANGING ON THE
TABLE BUT YOU ARE CREATING A
SYSTEM OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.
THE BOOK IS REALLY A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU HIGHLIGHT WHO
IS DOING THINGS WELL.
SO YOU ARE SETTING STANDARDS AND
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON PEOPLE
WHO ARE DOING WELL, YOU ARE
CELEBRATING THOSE AND AT THE
SAME TIME YOU ARE NOT NOT
DEMONIZING THE OTHERS BUT YOU
ARE POINTING OUT WHAT THEY ARE
DOING.
IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR SHIP YOU
WOULD CALL THAT A
THEORY OF CHANGE.
HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
DESIGN OF THAT?
IT IS PRETTY SOPHISTICATED?
WOMAN: FIRST OF ALL MY
BACKGROUND IS I WENT TO UCLA
ACTUALLY UNDERGRAD AND WENT TO
YALE FOR LAW SCHOOL AND HARVARD
FOR GRADUATE DEGREE AND PUBLIC
POLICY.
I AM VERY PRIVILEGED, EDUCATED,
CAN'T DENY THE FACT
THAT A LOT OF GOOD
COMMUNICATION COMES FROM THAT.
BUT IN OUR WORK, WE DO TWO
THINGS.
ONE, WE REALLY STUDY AN ISSUE
FOR A LONG TIME AND THOROUGHLY
BEFORE WE KIND OF MAKE
PROCLAMATIONS, BUT TWO, WE ALSO
REALLY LISTEN.
MY PRIMARY ROLE IS NOT A LAWYER
OR AN ACTIVIST OR AN AUTHOR.
IT IS AN ORGANIZER.
THAT WORD IS SO OVER USED, IT
REALLY BOTHERS ME.
ORGANIZING IS NOT WHAT MOST
PEOPLE THINK IT IS.
IT IS A VERY PRECISE ART FORM.
YOU CAN GO TO SCHOOLS FOR
ORGANIZING, YOU CAN GO TO SHORT
TRAININGS, MULTI YEAR TRAININGS
FOR ORGANIZING.
WHEN I AM TALKING ABOUT
ORGANIZING IT IS SOMETHING VERY
SPECIFIC.
COLLECTIVE ACTION BY THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED.
IN MY CASE RESTAURANT WORKERS.
LEADING THEIR OWN STRUGGLE FOR
CHANGE, TAKING DIRECT ACTION TO
CONFRONT THOSE WHO HAVE POWER
OVER THEIR LIVES, THAT IS
ORGANIZING.
SO IN OUR WORK
ORGANIZING IS NOT -- I AM NOT
IN ANY WAY DENIGRATING OTHER
TYPES OF WORK.
BUT ORGANIZING IS NOT BRINGING
PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DO SOCIAL
SERVICES OR TO EDUCATE OR TO
TALK.
IT REALLY IS BRINGING PEOPLE
MOST AFFECTED TOGETHER TO LEAD
THEIR OWN STRUGGLES FOR CHANGE.
IT MEANS DIRECT ACTION.
CONTENTIOUS DIRECT ACTION GOING
AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWER
OVER THEIR LIVES.
HOW DID I GET FROM A STUDENT AT
UCLA TO THIS?
PART OF IT IS EDUCATION AND A
TON OF RESEARCH.
THAT RESEARCH WAS LED BY,
GROUNDED IN, EXPERIENCES IN
LEADERSHIP OF ACTUAL RESTAURANT
WORKERS.
FOR ME THE THEORY OF CHANGE HAS
BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE WORKERS
THEMSELVES.
MY ROLE WAS TO BE A FACILITATOR
TO ALLOW WORKERS TO COME TOGETHER,
NAME THEIR CONDITIONS, DOCUMENT
THEM.
WE TRAINED THOUSANDS OF WORKERS
TO GO OUT LATE AT NIGHT AND
SURVEY THE WORKERS, FOLLOW THE
WORKERS HOME ON THE SUBWAY AFTER
THEIR LATE NIGHT SHIFT AND DO
THE SURVEYS WITH THEM.
WE DID 500 SURVEYS OF RESTAURANT
WORKERS LIKE FOLLOWING THEM
HOME AFTER LATE NIGHT SHIFTS.
THE WORKERS WOULD SURVEY THE
WORKERS AND GATHER THIS
INFORMATION, ANALYZE THIS AND
SAY THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE HAVE TO RAISE WAGES IN THIS
INDUSTRY.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE IS A
COMBINATION OF WHAT IS CALLED
PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND OTHER
KINDS OF RESEARCH BUT ALSO
ORGANIZING, LISTENING TO AND
ALLOWING WORKERS TO TAKE
LEADERSHIP IN THEIR OWN STRUGGLE
FOR CHANGE.
MAN: LAST WEEK THE PROFESSOR
TALKED ABOUT INEQUALITY,
STRATIFICATION AND HIS BOOK
"SAVING CAPITALISM" THERE ARE
HUGE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WHAT
WORKERS, WHICH OFTEN TIMES IF
YOU GO TO A JAMBA JUICE THE
LOWEST PAID PERSON IN THE
COUNTRY IS DELIVERING THE BRAND
PROMISE.
HE POINTS OUT THERE ARE SOME
CEO'S THAT ARE DOING NICE THINGS
LIKE PROMISING TO HIRE REFUGEES
OR GIVING EMPLOYEES MEDICAL
BENEFITS OR TIME OFF.
YOU TALK ABOUT -- BUT AT THE
SAME TIME THEY ARE PAID AN
EXTRAORDINARY WAGE AND THERE'S A
DISCREPANCY.
HOW ARE YOU WORKING ON THAT AND
HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT
GETTING THAT TOPIC VISIBLE?
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CEO OF CKE
I DIDN'T LOOK UP WHAT HE WAS
PAID.
WOMAN: SO, I MEAN FOR US A LOT OF
IT IS RAISING WAGES FOR WORKERS
ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT IS ABOUT POLICY.
THE BOOK HIGHLIGHTS RESTAURANTS
THAT ARE DOING WONDERFUL THINGS.
THIS HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT TO BE
VERY FRANK WITH YOU, A LOT OF
TIMES IN THE FOOD MOVEMENT WE
THINK THE REAL CHANGE COMES
ABOUT ENTIRELY BY CONSUMER
CHOICE.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GO TO A
DIFFERENT RESTAURANT THAT TREATS
WORKERS WELL AND CHANGE WILL FOLLOW.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SHOP AND
BUY A DIFFERENT TOMATO AND
CHANGE WILL FOLLOW.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST BE A
DIFFERENT KIND OF CONSUMER.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT THEORY IS
THAT IT HASN'T WORKED.
IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN DRAMATIC
CHANGE.
THE KIND OF TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE WE NEED IN OUR INDUSTRY.
SO FOR US, YES, WE SHOULD
CELEBRATE THE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE
DOING IT RIGHT AND SHOW THERE IS
AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF DOING
BUSINESS BUT IT HAS TO BE
COUPLED WITH POLICY CHANGE.
THE POLICY CHANGE HAS TO BE
ABOUT BOTH RAISING WAGES AND HAS
TO BE ABOUT THINGS LIKE PAID
SICK DAYS.
THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WE FIGHT
FOR.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THINGS LIKE
DEBT FREE COLLEGE SO
WORKING AMERICANS COULD ACTUALLY
GO TO COLLEGE.
IT HAS TO BE ABOUT HEALTHCARE.
IT HAS TO BE ABOUT SO MANY
THINGS THAT WE NEED AS PEOPLE,
AS A NATION.
I JUST WANT TO KEEP REMINDING US
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
POOREST PEOPLE OR SOME
MARGINALIZED GROUP OUT THERE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HALF OF THE
COUNTRY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO
CONSUME.
HALF OF OUR GDP CAN'T AFFORD TO
DO THESE THINGS UNTIL WE CHANGE
POLICY.
EVERY ONE OF US THAT CARES
ABOUT FOOD.
WE HAVE A CONSUMER MUSCLE TO BE
SURE BUT WE HAVE A CITIZEN
MUSCLE.
WE HAVE A MUSCLE IN WHICH WE AS
CONSUMERS NOT ONLY SHOP
DIFFERENTLY BUT ACTUALLY ENACT
CHANGE.
CHANGE IS NOT JUST ONCE EVERY
FOUR YEARS OR EVERY TWO YEARS OR
WE VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE OR
ANOTHER.
WE HAVE TONS OF POWER TO MOVE
POLICY IN BETWEEN ELECTION
CYCLES GO AND VISIT LEGISLATORS
AND SAY CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
IF YOU THINK THE OPPOSITION IS
SOMETHING LIKE ANDREW PUZDER OF
THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION THEY
ONLY WEIGH IN AT ELECTION CYCLES
YOU ARE SADLY
MISTAKEN.
A QUICK EXAMPLE.
I AM TALKING TOO MUCH.
VERY QUICK EXAMPLE IN MAINE I
TOLD YOU WE PASSED THIS AMAZING
BALLOT MEASURE.
MOST OF MAINE VOTED FOR IT.
NOW THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
HAS FOUND A SMALL GROUP OF
RESTAURANT WORKERS THAT THEY
HAVE CONVINCED AND TERRIFIED
THAT IF THEY GOT AN ACTUAL WAGE
FROM RESTAURANTS THEY WOULD LOSE
THEIR TIPS.
THEY STARTED A CAMPAIGN DON'T
TAKE AWAY MY TIPS.
THEY MOBILIZED A COUPLE DOZEN
RESTAURANT WORKERS TO MEET WITH
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS SAY I AM A
SINGLE MOM, REPEAL WHAT THEY
VOTED FOR.
GET RID OF TIPPED WORKERS OUT OF
THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.
IF YOU DON'T I WILL NOT GET MY
TIPS.
IT IS LIKE PEOPLE DEMANDING
DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME
HEALTHCARE.
NOW PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING DON'T
PAY ME I WILL LOSE MY TIPS.
WE ALREADY TOLD YOU PEOPLE GET
TIPPED MORE IN CALIFORNIA AND
THE OTHER STATES WITH ONE FAIR
WAGE THAN THEY DO IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY.
THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN ELECTION
CYCLES.
THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WAS
ACTIVE IN MEETING WITH
LEGISLATURES, PASS BILLS AND
MOVE THEIR AGENDA.
WE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
CORPORATIONS THINK OUR ONLY
DEMOCRATIC ROLE IS TO VOTE.
THAT'S OUR ROLE -- THAT'S OUR
ROLE IN DEMOCRACY.
IT'S NOT. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER
TO MOVE POLICY IN BETWEEN ELECTION
CYCLES.
MAN: YOU SEE A COUNTER
APPROACH?
WOMAN: EXPOSE THEM.
EXPOSE THEM.
I AM SO GLAD YOU USED MY
FAVORITE WORD.
MAN: THE DISCOURSE OF INTIMIDATION
IS GOING UP, THIS
SO-CALLED FEDERAL JUDGES MAKE
THE RULING.
YOU EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF
INTIMIDATION?
WOMAN: YES, ABSOLUTELY.
(TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER)
MAN: I THINK ALL OF US ARE
STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, SOME OF US
ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO PERSIST WHEN YOU ARE
BEING
INUNDATED?
WOMAN: DO WE HAVE TIME?
MAN: WE HAVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
YOU NEED TO GET ON THE COMPUTER?
WOMAN: YES.
MAN: LET ME HELP YOU.
WOMAN: I HAVE BEEN STALKED BY A
MAN NAMED RICHARD BURRMAN FOR
THE LAST 15 YEARS.
HE IS A HENCHMAN.
HE WAS A HENCHMAN FOR BIG
TOBACCO NOW HE IS A HENCHMEN FOR
BIG AG AND BIG FOOD AND
RESTAURANT CORPORATIONS.
HE STARTED ATTACKING US JUST
AFTER 9-11, WRITING OP-EDS ABOUT
US.
THEN IT GOT MORE SERIOUS.
HE WAS PAID ABOUT $6 MILLION.
THIS WAS EXPOSED IN AN ARTICLE
IN SALON.
HE WAS PAID 6 MILLION TO CREATE AN
ATTACK WEB SITE TAKE OUT FULL
PAGE ADS ATTACKING US.
HE HAD TWO INVESTIGATIONS INTO
US.
HE GOT THE IRS ALMOST SHUT US
DOWN.
HE SENT LETTERS TO EVERY BOARD
MEMBER OF OUR FOUNDATION
FUNDER'S HOME.
HE FILED PERSONAL LAWSUITS
AGAINST US.
EVERY KIND OF INTIMIDATION
TACTIC THAT YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
OVER TIME, AT FIRST WE KEPT
QUIET.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE MORE
ATTENTION TO WHAT HE WAS DOING.
WE DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
WE HOPED NOBODY WOULD KNOW THIS
WAS HAPPENING.
DIDN'T GET A TON OF ATTENTION
BUT IT GOT SOME.
FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WE DECIDED
WHY NOT DO THIS MORAL JUJITSU THING?
THERE ARE MOVES THAT YOU USE THE
FORCE OF THE OPPRESSOR AND TURN
IT AGAINST THEM.
WE DID.
WE WENT AROUND SAYING HE'S
BULLYING US AND PUTTING PICTURES
OF OUR CHILDREN UP ON THE WEB SITE.
WE STARTED TO COME OUT AND SAY
THIS IS A DAVID AND GOLIATH AND
THE GOLIATH IS A TOTAL BULLY.
WE GOT SOME ATTENTION, FINALLY
THE NEW YORK TIMES DID A PIECE
IN WHICH THEY HAD MY PICTURE AND
HIS PICTURE SIDE BY SIDE IN THE
BUSINESS SECTION OF THE NEW
YORK TIMES, BIG FULL PAGE ARTICLE,
AND IT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING AND
EXPOSED THE RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN FUNDING
THIS GUY.
RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME WE ALSO
PUT OUT OUR STUDY ON SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IN THE INDUSTRY.
THE NRA CHANGED THE LEADERSHIP
TO BE A WOMAN. PR ON
HOW A RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS A
GREAT PLACE FOR WOMEN.
STOP FUNDING RICHARD
BURRMAN.
JUST LIKE HE
CREATED A WEB SITE.
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING
HIM OFF OF OUR BACKS.
MAN: HE TAKES A CERTAIN PRIDE
EVEN JOY IN THE NICKNAME DR. EVIL.
THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT
(INDISCERNIBLE) LOBBYIST AND ARCHENEMY OF
OTHER LOBBYISTS AND DOGOODERS WHO
(INDISCERNIBLE).
IF THE GOVERNMENT IS TRULY
INTERESTED IN MY HEALTH AND
WELFARE THAT'S GREAT I CAN TAKE
CARE OF MYSELF.
MAN: AN OVER REGULATED SOCIETY
WITH DECLINING FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
HOW MUCH WE EARN, WHEN WE MAY DRIVE
AND WHAT WE EAT.
HE HAS A PARTICULAR CONTEMPT FOR
SO-CALLED FOOD COPS WHO CLAIM TO
KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR US.
MAN: THEY CREATE THIS CHICKEN
LITTLE MENTALITY WHERE THE
SKY IS FALLING OVER
EVERYTHING.
MAN: BURMAN IS THE FOOD INDUSTRY'S
6 FOOT 4, 64-YEAR-OLD
WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
MAN: MY MISSION IS NOT TO DEFEND CORPORATE AMERICA.
YOU MAY BELIEVE IN WHAT I
BELIEVE WILL YOU FUND IT?
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A HIRED
GUN OR NOT.
I GET PAID FOR EDUCATING PEOPLE.
IF THAT'S MY BIGGEST CRIME, I
STAND ACCUSED.
MAN: GUILTY OF RIDICULE WORTHY OF COMEDY
CENTRAL.
TAKE THIS AD PRODUCED BY
RICK BURMAN.
♪♪
MAN: IT IS NOT JUST THE FOOD
POLICE IT IS ANY ONE WHO
REGULATES OUR WAY OF LIFE.
LIKE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
WOMAN: ANIMAL RIGHTS LUNATICS WANT
TO PUT FARMS OUT OF BUSINESS.
MAN: YOU SOLD MY CLIENT THESE
CHOCOLATE CHIPS?
LOOK NO WARNING LABEL.
JUST A PRETTY PICTURE.
MAN: HIS CURRENT
FAVORITE, UNION LEADERS.
MAN: YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE?
PAYING UNION DUES JUST SO I CAN
KEEP MY JOB.
WOMAN: NOTHING MAKES ME FEEL BETTER
THAN KNOWING I AM SUPPORTING THEIR FAT
CAT LIFESTYLE.
MAN: THERE'S NO SENSE IN PUTTING
OUT A 17 PAGE SCIENTIFIC REPORT
NO ONE WILL READ.
PUT OUT A 30 SECOND
COMMERCIAL THAT MAKES THE POINT.
MAN: AMANDA, I WANT YOU TO LOOK
MEANER.
BURMAN SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT SHOOTING
THE MESSENGER.
IT MEANS GETTING PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THIS MESSENGER IS NOT
AS CREDIBLE AS THEIR NAME WOULD SUGGEST.
MAN: IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND
SOMEONE WHO HAVE AS MUCH VENOM
AS HIM.
MAN: I GET ATTACKED BUT I DON'T
GET ATTACKED FOR MY INFORMATION.
I GET ATTACKED PERSONALLY.
MAN: HE SAYS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE
CASH, IT'S A CALLING.
MAN: I AM DOING THIS BECAUSE IT
IS A PASSION OF MINE.
I BELIEVE IN WHAT I AM DOING.
MAN: I WAS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY
BEFORE I STARTED THIS.
I DO IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT
AND BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
MAN: HE SAYS HE WAS ONLY RESPONDING TO
HIS OPPONENTS WHO CONSISTENTLY
USE SCARE TACTICS.
MAN: THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUE TRANS FATS KILL KIDS.
BURMAN SAYS IT IS HARDLY THE POISON HIS
ENEMIES CLAIM IT IS.
MAN: PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE LED AROUND BY
THE NOSE WITH BAD INFORMATION.
YOU CAN MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND
WHETHER OR NOT MARGARINE IS
REALLY RAT POISON.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.
THEY ARE SO STUPID WHEN THEY DO
THAT.
THEY LEAVE THEMSELVES OPEN FOR
CRITICISM AND THAT'S THE TENSION
BETWEEN THESE COMMUNICATION
BATTLES.
SOMEBODY EXAGGERATING THE HELL
OUT OF A STORY AND SOMEONE LIKE
MYSELF COMING IN AND SAYING WHAT
IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?
MAN: THE GENUINE ISSUE OF
INCREASING OBESITY IN THIS
COUNTRY WHEN PEOPLE DESCRIBE IT AS AN
EPIDEMIC OR DISEASE.
THESE MORBIDLY OBESE PEOPLE WHEN YOU SEE
THEM WALKING DOWN THE STREET.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT'S A PROBLEM.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE AT A
HEALTH RISK. BUT THIS ISSUE THAT
IT'S A DISEASE. NOT YOUR FAULT
IT WILL BE THE ONLY DISEASE IN
THE COUNTRY THAT YOU CAN SOLVE BY
TAKING LONG WALKS AND KEEPING
YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
MAN: HE CONCEDES GOVERNMENT HAS
A ROLE BUT FOR THE MOST PART
THE MARKETPLACE WILL SELF
REGULATE.
MAN: IF THE OTHER SIDE THINKS
THAT I AM ALL
OF THESE BAD THINGS, THEY MUST THINK I'M
EFFECTIVE OR ELSE THEY WOULDN'T
BE BITCHING SO MUCH.
MAN: I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A
BUSINESS WHERE IT IS A ME, TOO,
THING.
WHY EVERYBODY IS SAYING OH BY
THE WAY I AGREE.
HE RATES HIS SUCCESS BY ONE SIMPLE
MEASURE.
IS HE MAKING PEOPLE THINK TWICE?
AS FOR THE CRITICS.
MAN: TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH
THE STATISTICS?
HAVE I SAID ANYTHING THAT'S
WRONG OR AM I JUST
OBJECTIONABLE?
IF I AM OBJECTIONABLE I SAY TAKE
A DEEP BREATH AND GET OVER IT.
I AM NOT GOING AWAY.
WOMAN: HE INVENTED
ALTERNATIVE FACTS.
HE SAID A LOT OF
DISTORTED THINGS WE HAVE HAD TO
CORRECT OVER THE
YEARS.
MAN: THE ONLY ANTIDOTE (INDISCERNIBLE) DALAI LAMA.
WOMAN: THIS MAN WAS DEFUNDED BY
THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
BECAUSE IN THE END THESE TACTICS
WE WERE ABLE TO EXPOSE THEM AND
HE IS NOW OFF ATTACKING
SOMEBODY
ELSE.
I WANT TO SAY MORE BUT I WON'T.
MAN: YOU DID WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ABOUT HIGHER
WAGES, YOU HAVE GOT A LOT OF
PROOF NOW.
WOMAN: ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT
IF YOU ACTUALLY WOULD PROVIDE
ONE FAIR WAGE, IF YOU WOULD PAY
A LIVABLE WAGE YOU CAN CUT YOUR
TURNOVER IN HALF.
IN AN INDUSTRY THAT EXPERIENCES
THE WORST TURNOVER THAN ANY
INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.
INCREASED PROFITABILITY
INCREASED MORALE, THE STATES THAT
HAVE THE HIGHEST WAGES ALSO
HAVE THE HIGHEST INDUSTRY GROWTH,
JOB GROWTH.
I AM SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD,
AND I AM SURE SOME OF YOU
BELIEVE THAT IF YOU RAISE THE
MINIMUM WAGE IT HAS TO MEAN, IT
HAS TO MEAN JOB LOSS, INCREASED
PRICES AND IT IS WONDERFUL
MYTHOLOGY PEOPLE LIKE
RICHARD BURMAN HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL WAGING
CAMPAIGNS THAT MAKE YOU BELIEVE.
IT IS NOT BORN OUT BY THE DATA.
GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
CALIFORNIA WE STUDIED APPLEBEES
IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE WAGE FOR
TIPPED WORKERS WAS 11 GOING UP
TO 15.
WE STUDIED APPLEBEES IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE WAGE
IS $2.77 AN HOUR.
THE PRICES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.
NEW YORK HAD HALF OF THE WAGE WE
DO.
NEW YORK STATE THAT WE DO FOR
TIPPED WORKERS.
THEIR
PRICES ARE HIGHER IN APPLEBEES.
THE IDEA THAT RAISING WAGES HAS TO
RESULT IN HIGHER PRICES IS A FALLACY.
IT DOESN'T
EXIST.
LESS TURNOVER HIGHER
RETENTION, MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE
WORK FORCES.
MUCH BETTER UP SELLING BY THEIR
WORKERS.
THEY HAVE A MORE SUCCESSFUL,
MORE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL.
SO AGAIN, THESE FALLACIES HAVE
BEEN -- THERE ARE COMMUNICATIONS
PEOPLE WHO MADE US BELIEVE
THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT
TRUE.
MAN: WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM ONE
OF THE
STUDENTS.
WOMAN: SO IS JUDY WORKMAN
HERE?
SHE SAID I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW
RESTAURANTS RECENTLY THAT
REQUIRE A 20 PERCENT TIP.
THEY BELIEVE THEY DESERVE THAT
MUCH OF A TIP WRITTEN ON THE
MENU AND THE TIP IS
AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO YOUR
BILL.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THIS TREND?
DO YOU THINK IT IS A VIABLE
SOLUTION TO HELP PROMOTE LIVING
WAGES TO RESTAURANT WORKERS?
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE?
WOMAN: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
MY FIRST ANSWER IS I DON'T WANT
TO TALK ABOUT AUTOMATIC TIPPING
UNTIL WE HAVE ONE FAIR WAGE.
RESTAURANTS THAT TELL YOU --
MAYBE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE CAN COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
IN OTHER STATES MOST OF THE
COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS NO WAGE A
RESTAURANT ASKING FOR AN
AUTOMATIC TIP IS ESSENTIALLY
FORCING YOU TO PAY ITS WORKERS
WAGES.
YOUR TIPS ARE SUBSIDIZING THEIR
WORKER'S WAGES.
YOU ARE PAYING THEIR WAGES FOR
THEM.
IN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE ONE FAIR
WAGE.
THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL THING.
IT BROUGHT UP A LOT OF LAWSUITS
AND CONTROVERSIES, DIFFERENT
LOCALITIES HAVE DIFFERENT RULES
AROUND IT.
THE STATES HAVE DIFFERENT RULES
AROUND IT.
FOR US THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
ONCE YOU HAVE IT, IF YOU CHOOSE TIPLESS
POLICIES, MEANING NO TIPS AT ALL
EVERYTHING INCLUDED IN THE
MENU PRICE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US
IS THAT YOU ARE TRANSPARENT AND
EVERYBODY KNOWS, WORKERS,
CUSTOMERS KNOW WHERE THE MONEY
IS GOING.
YOU ARE TRANSPARENT AND WORKERS
ARE NOT LOSING OUT.
IF YOU ARE IN A TIP SITUATION
AND YOU GO TO A SERVICE CHARGE
SITUATION OR AUTOMATIC GRATUITY.
THAT WORKERS DON'T LOSE FROM THAT TRANSITION.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN - RESTAURANTS MOVING TO SERVICE CHARGE MODEL
-- MAYBE AN AUTOMATIC
GRATUITY AND IT'S UNCLEAR AND
WORKERS COME SAYING TO US OUR
TIPS HAVE DISAPPEARED.
THEY HAVE TAKEN THEM AWAY
COMPLETELY.
THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
WAGES HAVE GONE WAY DOWN.
THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
MAN: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION
WOMAN: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION)
WOMAN: THAT'S WHY THERE ARE SO
MANY RESTAURANTS THAT ARE MOVING
AWAY FROM THE OLD SYSTEM AND
MOVING TO A NEW DIRECTION.
THE OLD SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK FOR
ANYBODY.
WHEN YOU HAVE HALF OF YOUR HOUSE
ESSENTIALLY WORKING FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE AND YOU HAVE HALF
WORKING FOR YOU YOU CAN'T CREATE
A TEAM.
THERE IS INEQUITY BY RACE. IN A LOT OF
RESTAURANTS THERE IS VERY LITTLE
MOBILITY.
EQUITY IS AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT ISSUE.
MAN: YOU SAID YOU HAVE 3,000
CONSUMERS NOW AND HOW MANY
RESTAURANTS AND HOW MANY
WORKERS?
WOMAN: 25,000 WORKERS.
MAN: SO WHAT WOULD YOUR GOAL BE?
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY AT THE
END OF
2017?
WOMAN: IN 2017?
MAN: OR IN THREE YEARS.
HOW
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THE CLASS HELP YOU?
WOMAN: OUR GOALS
HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. BEFORE
NOVEMBER 7TH OUR GOAL WAS MAYBE
WE CAN GET FROM 25,000 TO 30,000 OR
35,000.
MAYBE WE COULD GET 100 MORE
RESTAURANTS TO JOIN?
MAYBE WE COULD PASS POLICIES IN
TWO STATES.
NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL
STRIKES.
THEY ARE HAPPENING FEBRUARY
17TH.
MAY 1ST, THERE ARE GENERAL
STRIKES HAPPENING.
MASSES OF PEOPLE ARE READY TO
STAND UP AND DEMAND THE WHOLE
SYSTEM BE OVERTURNED.
FORGET PASSING POLICY STATE BY
STATE, EVERYTHING NEEDS TO
CHANGE AND EVERYTHING IS UP FOR
DEBATE.
FROM THE WORKER SIDE, I HOPE ON
ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE CAN
JUST START TO BE WAY MORE
VISIONARY AND AMBITIOUS.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO DO IT.
PEOPLE ARE UPSET, PEOPLE ARE
ANGRY, PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED,
PEOPLE ARE READY TO MOBILIZE.
WHEN WE MOBILIZE IT IS WHEN WE
WIN THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.
FORGET 35,000.
NOW THE GOAL IS WE WANT THE SKY.
WE WANT LIVABLE WAGES.
WE WANT BENEFITS.
WE WANT HEALTHCARE, WE WANT
EQUITY, WE WANT
IT ALL.
WE HAVE A CONSUMER ASSOCIATION
CALLED DINERS UNITED.
ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS
YOU CAN DO IS SIGN UP THROUGH
DINERS UNITED TO BECOME A MEMBER
AS A CONSUMER.
IF YOU ARE A WORKER PLEASE JOIN
ROC.
WE ARE OPENING OUR OWN
RESTAURANT, COLORS IN
OAKLAND.
WE HAVE BOUGHT A BUILDING ACROSS
FROM THE BART STATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE A RESTAURANT
AND TRAINING FACILITIES AND
TRAINING PEOPLE TO MOVE UP INTO
LIVABLE WAGE POSITIONS.
IT IS EXCITING.
YOU CAN JOIN ROC LOCALLY AND BE
A PART OF THE MOVEMENT TO CHANGE
LOCALLY.
IF YOU ARE NOT A WORKER AND YOU
ARE A CONSUMER -- OR YOU DON'T KNOW
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A WORKER
FOREVER.
THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN DO TO
SUPPORT THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE
TAKING THE HIGH ROAD.
JOINING US IN THESE -- WE ARE
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THESE
EVENTS SO WE CAN BRING COMMUNITY
TOGETHER IN RESTAURANTS AND GET
TO HEAL SOME OF THE DIVIDES
THAT I THINK WE ARE ALL
EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
MAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S
REALLY GREAT --
(APPLAUSE) MAN: IT'S REALLY
GREAT TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF A
JIU JITSU MASTER. THANKS FOR YOUR INSPIRING TALK. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.