One Fair Wage Introduces $1 Million Relief Fund for Restaurant Workers

Photo courtesy of Robb Report

A new relief fund called “Wages Can’t Wait – Service Worker Action and Relief Fund” has been introduced by Washington D.C.-based non-profit One Fair Wage. This $1 million fund is the organization’s way of encouraging hospitality workers to stay in the industry and advocate for fair wages. 

One Fair Wage found that over 53% of workers are considering leaving their restaurant jobs, and 73% of them are citing low wages and tips as the main reason why they are finding new employment in other sectors. Although the hospitality industry has seen only increased customer demand in the past couple months, workers applying for jobs in the industry has been virtually nonexistent. According to Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, “the restaurant industry doesn’t have a worker shortage — it has a wage shortage. Tens of thousands of restaurant workers do not want to go back to work to earn poverty wages putting their lives on the line.” 

Addressing these key concerns is necessary in order for the industry to survive, and the organization plans on doing so by offering restaurant workers who have recently walked out or are considering walking out on their low-paying jobs up to $1,200; this sum, however, will be contingent on completing a 3-step plan put forth by the organization. 

In order to receive funds, applicants must advocate on behalf of restaurant workers and complete 3 “levels of engagement” as follows:

• 1) Level One

• The applicant must host a video meeting with 3 co-workers and a One Fair Wage organizer on the topic of the minimum-wage fight. They then must create a one-to-three minute video detailing why they are fighting for the $15 minimum wage with tips and send it to One Fair Wage. 
• 2) Level Two
  • The applicant must host a second video meeting with 3 co-workers and a One Fair Wage organizer on the topic of strategies for workplace demands and what a demand letter would look like to send to lawmakers. They then must recruit at least 1 person to sign their letter; if they have already walked out, the applicant must meet with an organizer again to improve their letter and then acquire 10 signatures.
• 3) Level Three
  • The applicant must submit the demand letter or complete a “collective action.” 

The “Wages Can’t Wait – Service Worker Action and Relief Fund” will be giving funds until Labor Day, however it has already stated that it will extend the deadline if more people need aid. 

Apply here: https://ofwemergencyfund.org/wcwfund  

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