We all know someone that has been a part of the service and hospitality industry. These people may include loved ones, classmates, and neighbors. The truth is, these people are all around us as our society and economy thrive on the hard-work of these people and the consumerism of these industries. The sad reality is that these industries oftentimes exploit these hard-working people, and it is a fact that the working-class is most vulnerable to exploitation as minimum-wage remains stagnant while basic necessities such as food and shelter continue to increase in value. No one should ever have to worry about how they will pay rent at the end of the month or put food on their table because they were left with no tip while remaining to be paid what the federal Fair Labor Standards Act defines as a "livable wage" for tipped employees at $2.13/hour. The good news is that these industries are made up of bright, skillful, and personable people, and for this reason I am petitioning to begin the American Restaurant Workers Union. The union will be comprised of workers from industries in service and hospitality. Due to varying state laws, the union will handle cases on a state-to-state basis, but the mission of the union will remain unanimous: 

• That all industry workers have legal and anonymous protection from sexual harassment and mistreatment from their employer. 
• That all industry workers have legal protection against discrimination based on: age, sex, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, ethnicity, and race. 
• That all tipped-employees be paid a livable minimum-wage when compared to their states cost-of-living, or otherwise enforce a mandatory gratuity to resolve underpayment. 
• That all states disband from right-to-work and at-will laws and regulations aimed at stripping vulnerable employees from their rights. 

As our union grows in number, we will expand this list to meet and include all our members demands. When we band together for a common cause we have the power to create fair structural change. Know your legal rights at: https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/rights/employer-union-rights-and-obligations

Thank you for your time and commitment,

Herman Younger