Occupying Restaurant Workers: Among the Lowest-Paid of the 99%

Juan Carlos Romero is a 20-year-old restaurant worker, ROC-NY member, and the newest staffperson of ROC-United. He’s also become an extremely active in the Occupy Wall Street movement, leading drum circles and helping to organize marches and rallies. “I make $200 a week from my restaurant job – it would never be enough to survive,” he says. “I’m here because I believe in an America that provides opportunities for everyone, not just the rich.”

Juan Carlos is one of 10 million restaurant workers nationwide who struggle under poverty wages and working conditions. With a federal minimum wage for tipped workers of $2.13, the median wage for restaurant workers nationwide is $8.86, just below the federal poverty line for a family of three. That means that the majority of the people who cook, prepare, and serve your food nationwide are poor, and that seven of the ten lowest-paid occupations in America in 2010 were food service jobs.

Representing one of the largest and fastest growing workforces within the 99%, we at ROC stand in complete solidarity with #OccupyWallSt and the growing movement for economic justice not only now, but for as long as it takes to make sure that workers like Juan Carlos can support themselves and their families. As we continue to support the #occupy movement everywhere, join us in also fighting to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers! Click here to let your Congressperson know that $2.13 is not enough for anyone!

Wall St. doesn’t need a raise – main street does!