ROC-NY members are actively involved in ROC-NY committees poised to lead the fight for justice in the New York City restaurant industry.
Policy Committee
The ROC-NY Policy Committee works to achieve policy changes for restaurant workers by developing new laws and meeting with policymakers to win passage of these laws. In 2005, the Policy Committee won a statewide minimum wage increase for restaurant workers - the tipped minimum wage went from $3.30 to $4.60! In 2007, the Policy Committee won introduction of the Responsible Restaurant Act, which will provide a process for the City to consider employment law violations in granting Operating Licenses to restaurants.
Women's Committee
The ROC-NY Women's Committee works to fight rampant sexual harassment and gender discrimination in restaurants. This newly-formed committee is developing a peer education curriculum around sexual harassment and has created a class at our school, the Colors Hospitality & Opportunities for Workers (C.H.O.W.) Institute to provide both professional and personal development for female restaurant workers so that they may advance in this industry. Seeing the increasing number of women in the restaurant industry, ROC-NY created the Women's Commitee with the purpose of addressing issues that women commonly face within the workplace. The commitee is also a forum where women can strategize ways of changing the power hierarchy greatly dominated by men. Through the Women's Commitee ROC-NY hopes to generate a community where women can foster their largely underrepresented voices. ROC-NY encourages everyone to join the informative, supportive, and proactive Women's Commitee in its endeavor to grant women the respect and opportunity they deserve in the industy.
Workplace Justice Committee
The ROC-NY Workplace Justice Committee works to win campaigns against exploitative restaurant companies. Over the last six years, ROC-NY has won nine campaigns against some of the City's most powerful restaurant companies, totaling more than $4,500,000 in unpaid wages and discrimination payments. Leaders of these campaigns, who have already won changes in their own workplaces, take the lead in helping other workers to achieve justice and improve working conditions in their workplaces.
Health and Safety Committee
The ROC-NY Health and Safety Committee works to educate restaurant workers about how to avoid accidents, injuries, and pain while working in this dangerous, accident-prone industry. The Committee also educates workers on their rights when accidents do occur. The Committee is working to complete a major study of restaurant workers' health and safety on the job, and will be fighting to win paid sick days and health insurance for restaurant workers.
Meet Our Committee Members in Action!
POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WOMEN'S COMMITTEE MEMBERS
HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
