ROC-United

We are 13,000 restaurant workers, 100 high-road employers, thousands of engaged consumers united for raising restaurant industry standards; we are the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC). Over the last five years, we have won 13 workplace justice campaigns against exploitative high-profile restaurant companies, obtaining more than $7 million and improvements in workplace policies for workers at those restaurants. We are on the front lines of the fight to improve labor practices across the restaurant industry, eliminate the tipped minimum wage (which has been stuck at $2.13 at the federal level since 1991), and ensure one fair minimum wage for all workers.

New Campaign Campaigns

  • Expose Eric Kretschman & Highland Hospitality LLC : Workers Wages Stolen Across All Establishments
    Philadelphia’s Restaurant Industry Professionals must stand up to predatory business owners. They cannot continue to do business in Philadelphia. Employers should not be benefiting off a thriving and supportive community while providing the community negligent work environments. It is unacceptable. Business owners should not be willing to steal from its staff, obfuscate responsibilities and create financial disasters for employees and community members. Workers across the country are still recovering from a historic economic crisis and now must face having to fight for wages they earned.
    2,563 of 3,000 Signatures
    Created by ROC United Picture
  • Stop Putting Profit Over People
    This is extremely important because this company needs to realize that we are people and deserve to be treated better and paid properly. We work hard for our tips and it is completely unfair that although the guest is not forced to tip me, I am forced to tip out the food runner, whether I made money or not. We are already not getting paid any extra with the virtual kitchens they've put in place without our consent, which are completely exploiting us for Corporate greed but now they're literally taking money from our pockets to pay the staff for a new role that they chose to add, that no one needed or asked for.
    8,135 of 9,000 Signatures
    Created by Alexandra Torres Picture
  • Cheesecake Factory, do better!
    We believe that those of us on the frontline of the Cheesecake Factory have not been treated fairly or compensated adequately. While the company has come through the pandemic with record profits, we have not seen the gains that our labor produced nor been adequately protected from the risks we are taking on by working directly with the public each day.
    3,035 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Lindsay Ruck
  • Protect Workers and Stop Sexual Harassment
    The issue of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior at Chili's is unacceptable, but it's also reflective of the entire restaurant industry, as a whole. We need to make a change for all future restaurant workers because no one should have to endure exploitation, sexual harassment, or bullying in the workplace.
    2,843 of 3,000 Signatures
    Created by John M.
  • Guy Fieri: Put an End to discrimination at LIVE Casino, Westmoreland County
    SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE! Although Black workers at Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar Westmoreland have more professional experience, they are being paid LOWER WAGES than their white counterparts. This was brought to light following a recent racially charged incident, where a restaurant manager openly used the word “N****R” in front of several employees, while ordering a worker to turn off the music. Nate Ridley, a Black worker who was present when the racist remark was made, formally filed a complaint with LIVE! Casino’s HR department after the incident and put in his two weeks notice. It is unacceptable that the job he was once excited about had allowed such discrimination and disrespect to happen. The HR department did not immediately respond to Ridley’s grievance and he was expected to continue to work alongside the manager who made the racial slur. Ridley then connected with ROC-PA, which led to the discovery of the pay disparity between Black and white workers. When management was asked about the pay discrepancy, workers were told not to discuss wages with others. After ROC first circulated this petition, the LIVE! Casino’s HR department finally responded, saying that they would “look into the situation.” The management advised workers to “be careful signing petitions.” To date, Ridley has yet to receive an apology from the upper management of Guy’s Kitchen & Bar. We believe that everyone has the right to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. As employees, we demand accountability, action and fair wages!
    3,369 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Bobbi Linskens
  • Minimum Wage for TCF Food Runners/Bussers
    This is an issue worth fighting for. Although servers take turns food running, it is not worth our time to make server wage and then a small 1% of the servers' sales during these shifts. Food runners are being pulled to help run to-gos. Food runners and bussers are running around the entire shift and are what makes a shift run smoothly. We aren't fighting for a raise or promotion, just minimum wage because we work hard and deserve that. Other restaurants do it.
    467 of 500 Signatures
  • Cheesecake Factory: Allen deserves his job back
    We spend more time in the restaurant than we do in our own homes with our families and we love and take pride in what we do. For a lot of us restaurant workers, this is a profession, a career and a way of life that can not only support our families, but also pays our bills and maintains quality of life. We understand that the restaurant industry can be difficult, stressful and exhausting, but we look to our managers for guidance when that happens. A manager should protect and respect the staff, follow the guidelines and hold themselves to the same standards. A manager should never yell at a worker in front of guests and other staff members for any reason. As employees, it is our RIGHT under the National Labor Relations Act to speak out at the workplace with our co-workers. It is against federal labor law for an employer to retaliate for voicing workplace concerns. We deserve a fair trial. This is our opportunity to change the restaurant culture not only within The Cheesecake Factory but to also set a higher standard for restaurants across the country. By signing this petition to support Allen, he will have the opportunity to stay safe, support his family and put food back on the table. We ask for your support by signing this petition, sharing this with friends and joining our fight for what is right!
    3,054 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Erika Toth
  • Increase Hourly Wage for Tatte Employees
    Tatte FOH employees do more than just take orders and food run. They are heavily trained upon being hired, so that no pastry, dessert, or retail items are out of place. While this makes for great service and knowledgeable staff, this also means that they are expected to perform more duties than the average server, yet make less than one. These high standards must be reflected in the pay that FOH receives. $10/hour is simply not a living wage, and this must change immediately. We call upon Tatte to raise the wage for FOH workers to at least match the Massachusetts minimum wage, $12.75, and to also raise the wage for BOH/non-tipped workers by $2.75.
    217 of 300 Signatures
    Created by ROC Boston
  • Peet’s Coffee Provide Emergency Paid Leave and Meet with Your Workers!
    We as workers, especially immuno-compromised and vulnerable workers, are being forced to risk potential exposure to and spread of the Coronavirus while CEO Kenneth Keller can continue working remotely. We should not have to choose between paying for essential food, rent and medical supplies and compromising social solidarity (a.k.a. social distancing) or exposing ourselves to further risks.
    3,110 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Restaurant Opportunities Center of MN ROCMN
  • Panera Bread: Provide Emergency Paid Leave and Meet with Your Workers
    We as workers, especially immuno-compromised and vulnerable workers, are being forced to risk potential exposure to and spread of the Coronavirus while CEO Niren Chaudhary can continue working remotely. We should not have to choose between paying for essential food, rent and medical supplies and compromising social solidarity (a.k.a. social distancing) or exposing ourselves to further risks.
    3,218 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Restaurant Opportunities Center of MN ROCMN
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