The current recession has created
millions of unemployed Americans and left countless others homeless. The
average working family has less money to spend and is struggling to reduce all
costs that aren't critical to survival.
One easy expense for consumers to cut
out is eating out, meaning a loss of income for moderately priced restaurants. Many
industries, particularly restaurants and retail, have suffered as a
consequence. Restaurant owners and managers now have a greater incentive to
increase profits by cutting corners with food quality, health and safety, and
labor rights. Consequently, workers have been increasingly apprehensive of
speaking out about work grievances, fearing job loss and prolonged unemployment. Instead
of pursuing all bad apples that exploit workers, YWU set out to create the
first guide to socially responsible restaurants in San Francisco.
Unlike traditional restaurant
guides, our guide highlights food establishments that follow labor laws and
treat their employees with dignity and respect. We believe that good employment
practices and good food go hand in hand. Restaurant owners who care not only
about the food they serve but also the people they employ should be
commended.
We believe that better working
conditions mean less turnover, better service, more care in the preparation of our food, a
friendlier atmosphere and an overall superior dining experience. To determine
which restaurants are eligible for inclusion in the guide, we have surveyed
workers and employers in restaurants of different price ranges, neighborhoods
and cuisines in San Francisco. We will make
our guide widely available to local patrons as well as tourists so that they
may be aware of the impact of their dining choices. Additionally, we are
releasing a detailed report on working conditions in the San Francisco restaurant
industry.
There is a lot of buzz around green
businesses, sustainability, and local sourcing, but very few people ask about
the working conditions of the people that prepare our food, serve our meals and
wash our dishes when we eat out. Our guide will raise the questions, “What kind
of restaurant do I want to eat at? Do I want my dollars to fuel worker
exploitation or do I want to support businesses that treat their employees like
human beings?” Dining with Justice 2010 is just the beginning. We will continue publishing an annual guide to SF restaurants. Keep an eye out for us in 2011!
