If the law dictates our workplace rights, it is important for us to engage with the legislative process to work towards expanding, implementing, and enforcing our rights.
We do this through our worker-led Policy Committee. Policy committee members create worker-led policy initiatives to improve conditions for restaurant workers on a city, state and federal level. Policy Committee members decide which policy issues ROC-NY should address, and they then make the actual policies by working on drafting, meeting with policy makers, and planning and attending related events. ROC-NY Policy Committee members have traveled across the country for policy and restaurant worker related events. Additionally, ROC-NY is developing a Policy Leadership Committee to hone the skills of Policy Committee Members who have demonstrated consistent leadership in ROC-NY and their communities.
(2005) Statewide minimum wage increase for tipped workers from $3.30 to $4.60;
(2008) Introduction of the Responsible Restaurant Act providing the city with a process to consider employment law violations when granting Operating Licenses to restaurants;
(2009) Introduction of Federal Legislation to increase the tipped minimum wage, which currently sits at $2.13;
(2009) Introduction of New York City Earned Paid Sick Days Bill, which would provide all restaurant workers paid sick time
(2012) Re-introduction of New York City Earned Paid Sick Days Bill & Statewide legislation to raise the minimum wage for tipped and non-tipped workers
For more information please contact Rahul Saksena at Rahul@rocny.org or (212) 343-1771 x11.
