From November 18th to the 24th, the Food Chain Workers Alliance and food workers from around the country are celebrating the first annual International Food Workers Week! As stated by the Restaurant Opportunities Center, “the purpose of this week is to highlight the issues faced by workers all along the food chain – from farms to meatpacking plants to trucking to retail to restaurants.” Some of these issue include low wages, lack of health benefits, such as paid sick days, and of course wage theft and discrimination.

Don’t you think there’s something wrong here, when only one tenth of the people who cook, prepare and serve your food are able to care for their health when sick? Meaning, only one tenth of all restaurant workers have access to paid sick days.

You would think that for Corporations like the Darden – the world’s largest full-service restaurant company with annual sales of over $8.0 billion and with more than 2,000 restaurants across the World, this would be different. Darden’s mission is to maintain standards, nurture sustainability, nourish a rich diversity, while preserving their culture. But for workers like Keith, after years of working at Capital Grille, the nurturing and sustainability was only a promise that never materialized.

Help change that for Keith and over 40,000 restaurant workers in the District of Columbia.

“One of the core values of the Capital Grille is to treat everyone with dignity, respect, honesty and integrity. I was a firm believer in that, but after years of working at the Capital Grille, I came to realize that not everyone was treated that way. I realized that workers were not treated with dignity and respect. The ability to have career advancement, a stable income, and support yourself and your family financially is important. Having health care benefits in this day and age, especially in the hospitality industry, and to be able to take a day off if you do become ill is as important as well. Working in the restaurant industry, you come across several people on a daily basis and the transfer of germs is evident. To be able to take a day off if you do become ill is important because you shouldn’t have to choose between going to work sick and making an income. In fine dining establishments, such as the Capital Grille, anytime the guest may get up and leave the table, we are required to fold the napkin for presentation upon the return of the guest to the table. Guests use this napkin to clean their faces, mouths, and if one of the guests is sick, we inevitably come in contact with those germs, putting our health and that of our co-workers at risk.”

Keith Jones is one of the worker leaders who exactly a year ago, with the help of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Washington DC, launched what is now a national campaign against the Capital Grille and its parent company, Darden, for issues of discrimination, wage theft, lack of paid sick days, and countless other unfair labor practices. After years of working at the Capital Grille, Keith came to realize that promises of prosperity and dignity, unless backed with concrete benefits, were not enough to feed and care for his family. Like Keith, about two thirds of workers have reported going to work sick. You can’t imagine this? Well, check out this new video produced by the Restaurant Opportunities Center – United and learn the truth about your meal, and the harsh reality of restaurant workers not having paid sick days. Then don’t forget to sign the petition supporting paid sick days for all restaurant workers in the District.

Simon had no idea that a paid sick days law even existed. As a non-tipped worker at a restaurant, Simon’s employer is legally obligated to provide him with paid sick days, yet his workplace has no poster explaining the law, nor do his managers ever mention it to the employees.

Without paid sick days, Simon worries that he puts the public at risk, exposing them to whatever sickness he is carrying at the moment.

If you believe the non-tipped workers, like Simon, should have their right to paid sick days actually enforced – sign the petition: http://bit.ly/psdforall

This week’s story comes from Naomi, a ROC-DC member and longtime restaurant worker.

More often than not, workers like Naomi are forced to work even when they are extremely sick.  Naomi couldn’t even walk, nor could she hold back her tears due to the extreme pain she was feeling. But her manager forced her to finish her shift despite her pleas and tears. Fearing that she would be fired if she didn’t, Naomi wiped off her tears and went back to work.

Stories like Naomi’s are far too common. Many times workers feel like they have to go to work even if they are ill, because they can’t afford to lose a day’s pay or because they fear being fired. This is known as “presenteeism” and it’s estimated to cost the national economy $160 billion annually, surpassing the cost of “absenteeism”. In addition, workers without paid sick days are far more  likely to go to the emergency room because they can’t take time off to stay home and get better, or go to the doctor during normal business hours.

Watch Naomi’s full story, share with others and help us raise awareness about this issue.

If you believe that no worker should have to choose between their health and a paycheck, please sign the petition: http://bit.ly/psdforall

For more information and to get involved, e-mail: info@paidsickdaysforall.org

Amid the miniature princesses and skeletons out in force on Halloween night, a group of grownup zombie chefs haunted DC’s streets. They scorned candy, instead seeking- what else?- petition signatures.

The Paid Sick Days for All canvass “Trick or Treat for a Healthy DC” gathered over 30 JUFJ, ROC, and EJC volunteers. Meeting at Petworth’s Parkview Recreation Center, volunteers mingled and swapped candy with the children and families celebrating around the Rec Center as the had their faces painted, put on their chef hats and aprons, and prepared to meet the wonderful families of Petworth.

Dressed as sick waiters and chefs, these volunteers were able to collect over 300 signatures for our petition, pushing our total well above 1,100! This means that through the course of the night, we had over 300 new conversations with DC residents, spreading the word about the risks posed when restaurant workers are forced to come to work sick.
Residents of Petworth were overwhelmingly supportive of our message, understanding immediately the importance of protecting the public health through paid sick days.

Although the DC Council passed a law in 2008 that guarantees that all workers in the District can earn up to seven days of paid sick days, a last-minute amendment was made to the law, excluding all tipped restaurant workers from earning this benefit.

“This has been the best canvassing I’ve ever done”’, said an experience canvasser who knocked on doors and spoke to residents in the area. While residents were a bit disappointed that we were not there for the candy, once they heard the horrific stories of restaurant workers who’ve had to work with swine flu or whose common cold has turned into severe bronchitis, they called on their neighbors and friends to also sign our petition.

Especially during flu season, parents like the ones we met in Petworth understand all too well the difficult choice between sending a sick child to school, leaving that sick child home alone, or staying home to care for that child at the risk of losing one’s job.

Seeing the overhwelmingly positive reaction of Petworth residents to our canvassing, the Paid Sick Day for All Coalition cannot wait to go out and speak to more residents of the District about this important issue. So don’t be surprised if next time we knock on your door.

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