As someone who has spent years working in the restaurant industry myself, I wholeheartedly admire Chrissy Teigen‘s initiative to raise awareness about the urgent need for fair wages for tipped workers. Her personal experience as a hostess resonates with me and many others in this field. It’s disheartening to see how long the sub-minimum wage has been stuck at $3.13, a figure that is not only unjust but also absurd.
On Thursday evening, Chrissy Teigen headed up a team of star waitstaff in West Hollywood, organizing an event to collect funds for the One Fair Wage initiative.
The “One Hour Server Fundraiser,” led by One Fair Wage with Teigen as chairperson, was organized to bring attention to the immediate need for wage increases, abolish the sub-minimal wage for tipped employees, and enhance working conditions for the multitude of waitstaff, bartenders, busboys, and other service workers who are underpaid. This is based on a statement released by the organization.
As a fervent admirer, I had the incredible opportunity to witness an extraordinary event at the LadyHawk restaurant in West Hollywood. Stars like Keegan-Michael Key, June Diane Raphael, Jesse Tyler-Ferguson, Matt Bomer, and Ike Barinholtz, among others, graciously stepped out of their limelight to serve as servers for the evening! It was a truly unforgettable experience to see them taking orders and serving food with such warmth and dedication.
Many of us in this group have a history working in the restaurant business. I was a hostess,” Teigen shared with The Hollywood Reporter at LadyHawk right before the event. “For over 30 years, the sub-minimum wage has been just $3.13. It’s appalling. It’s hard to believe.
The author of the cookbook underscored that the food industry is exploiting its employees, a topic consistently addressed by the night’s speakers, such as Meena Harris (CEO of Phenomenal Media and Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Saru Jayaraman from One Fair Wage, and Chrissy Teigen.
Ever since Chrissy initiated this fundraiser last year, we’ve managed to collect sufficient funds to secure a significant wage hike for approximately 1.2 million workers in Michigan. Their minimum wage has been increased from $3.87 to $15 an hour, along with tips,” Jayaraman explained to THR.
She went on to explain that approximately 10 billion dollars annually is being put directly into the pockets of low-wage workers,” she said, breaking down its practical implications for the workers.
As a gamer translating this, I’d say: “For a hardworking waitress in Michigan, who juggles multiple jobs just to make ends meet – perhaps a single mom striving for balance – this could mean she might only need one job. This extra free time could potentially allow her to spend more moments with her cherished kids. Moreover, it might even give her the opportunity to exercise her right to vote, something she may not have had the luxury of before.
During the entire night, star-studded service personnel were observed giving their all. Key was noticed absorbing knowledge from the restaurant staff, focusing intently and jotting down tips on how to enter orders into the system. At the same time, Raphael dove headfirst into attempting to handle orders herself. The regular staff of the restaurant provided assistance to the celebrity servers throughout the evening.
Teigen chose several aspects she admired about the occasion, and most of them revolved around her affection for the profession. “Tonight, we’re all collaborating, and the most wonderful thing is everyone here, savoring the food, is relishing the evening,” she chuckled. “They’re not attending because we’ll excel at our tasks,” she added, showing respect for those in the industry.
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2024-09-07 00:54