Roadmap to Reimagine Restaurants

The restaurant industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States, employing more than 9 percent of the total private sector workforce in about 615,000 restaurant establishments around the country. 

Here is a RAISE publication for your use. ROADMAP

In major metropolitan areas, the restaurant industry has already overtaken manufacturing as a primary employer. But much of the industry’s growth has not benefited its workforce. Ten of the 20 lowest-paying jobs are in the restaurant industry, and five of these are tipped occupations.

Over 13 million workers are directly employed in food preparation and serving occupations. Fifty-two percent of all workers who are at or below the minimum wage are in the restaurant industry, yet restaurant workers make up only 15 percent of all workers in all occupations earning an hourly wage.

Our campaign aims to:

• Address racial segregation in the industry through a combination of policies and programs that increase worker training and certification in livable wage job skills, push and train employers to desegregate their restaurants, and engage consumers in supporting restaurants that desegregate.

• Mandate transparent, formalized hiring, promotion, and training processes.

• Increase awareness and understanding of local labor laws.

• Strengthen and extend existing legislation to facilitate greater access to healthcare and scheduling rights among all restaurant workers in the Bay Area.

• Ensure workers have a voice in ownership and control over gratuities and service charges left on their behalf.