Restaurant Workers Demand Increase in Minimum Wage

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)“21 years of $2.13 / the NRA is greedy and mean” chanted dozens of protesters in front of the National Restaurant Association office at noontime Tuesday in downtown DC. Clad in standard restaurant black and white garb, many wearing aprons, members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center – both the local DC chapter and others from across the country – chanted, sang and danced as they told the story of the thousands of tipped workers – primarily women – struggling to survive on the $2.13/hour minimum wage that hasn't been increased in the past 21 years. “I serve families food for a living but I had to be on food stamps” said ROC-Philly’s Victoria Bruton to the gathered crowd. “We deserve a fair wage.” The ROC United slogan – “We are Power! We are strong! Who are we? ROC United!” rang out in more than 10 different languages throughout the rally as a microphone was passed through the crowd to celebrate the diversity of the ROC members. - report/photos by Julia Kann