Labor
Santa Clara County Supervisors pass hazard pay ordinance for grocery store, pharmacy workers
Mountain View Voice 3/22
An initial version of the ordinance that the board discussed in February included restaurant workers to receive the $5 per hour increase in pay. However, the board ultimately decided to omit them.
How a Cult-Favorite Burger Chain Rolled Out a $15 Minimum Wage
QSR Magazine 3/21
The Terry family leads with their heart, he explains, and social responsibility is a significant priority. For people unaware of this, an increase to a $15 minimum wage during a pandemic—especially for a 20-unit brand—may seem like a head-scratching decision. But to the people in the know, the move is completely in line with the culture that the Terry’s have built over the past 16 years.
Food Industry Policy
Two Food Cost Myths Hamstringing Your Restaurant’s Recovery
FSR Magazine 3/22
Food costs have been rising on a weekly basis for darn near two decades now. Most restaurant operators are quick to attribute their high food cost to these price changes. On top of that, the echo chamber of the Internet keeps compounding the problem, feeding you bad information like the average food cost for a restaurant is 34 percent or TV shows touting a three times markup.
New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO: Liquor license fee waiver a ‘drop in the bucket’
The Center Square 3/22
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to waive all annual liquor license fees on both renewals and new licenses for New Mexico’s restaurants, bars and hospitality establishments that sell liquor. Carol Wight, CEO NM Restaurant Association, said they view it as a matter of fairness.
On the Side
Police arrest woman for allegedly hitting a restaurant worker, making racist comments
The Mercury News 3/22
When police arrived, McDonald’s workers identified the 40-year-old woman and said she had hit an employee and had made several remarks toward them degrading their ethnicity. The woman allegedly made disparaging remarks against the Latino worker who she hit. She also made similar statement in front of officers on scene, police said.
Asian American Activist Works to Empower Refugee Women Through Culinary Training
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth 3/20
A North Texas Asian American woman’s company is working to empower refugee women through culinary training and education. Jin-Ya Huang’s Dallas-based food company Break Bread, Break Borders is transforming lives and breaking barriers. Huang said the organization helps refugee women from war-torn countries find jobs in the foodservice industry by offering training and helping them acquire a food handler’s permit and a food manager’s license certification.
