Labor and Policy: Page 21


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    Grubhub sues NYC over restaurant data-sharing law

    The delivery firm alleges the city's requirements for delivery companies to share data with restaurants are unconstitutional and present a security risk.

    By Dec. 13, 2021
  • Ian Hayes, an attorney for Workers United, says three ballots went uncounted
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks Workers United confident of impending victory at 2nd store

    The union believes the final count at a store in Cheektowaga, New York, will be in its favor, claiming six ballots were cast by ineligible voters. The union leads 15-9, with seven total challenges. 

    By Dec. 10, 2021
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Revitalization Fund

    IRC: 86% of restaurants may close without an RRF refill

    A new survey from the Independent Restaurant Coalition reports a 4% jump since September in the number of operators who think they won't be able to keep their kitchens open.

    By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 10, 2021
  • Starbucks union vote in Buffalo
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks workers vote to form union at 1 out of 3 NY stores

    At a Buffalo location, the union organizing committee secured a 19 to 8 majority vote in favor of unionization. The Hamburg store voted against unionization, and no definitive results are available yet for its Cheektowaga unit.

    By Dec. 9, 2021
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Report: 54% of Topgolf employees report being sexually harassed

    The percentage jumps to 63% for women and nonbinary employees and 100% of Black, Indigenous and/or Latinx/Hispanic women under 50 years old, a One Fair Wage survey finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 8, 2021
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Small businesses raise wages at record pace

    As inflation rises and "help wanted" signs go unanswered, restaurants are raising wages at the fastest rate in many years.

    By Jim Tyson • Dec. 8, 2021
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Restaurant Law Center files suit against Biden administration's tip credit policy

    The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Law Center and the Texas Restaurant Association allege the Department of Labor's changes to tipping regulation are arbitrary and capricious.

    By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 7, 2021
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    NYC expands vaccine requirement to all private-sector workers

    The mandate, which may spark legal challenges, stretches the city's indoor dining vaccine requirement to include children aged 5 to 11 years old. 

    By Ryan Golden • Dec. 7, 2021
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    Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
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    Suit alleges Starbucks youth recruitment program was 'blatant' age discrimination

    A suit claims managers over 40 years of age were denied promotions and fired at the coffee giant, as workers increase scrutiny on age discrimination. 

    By Kate Tornone • Dec. 6, 2021
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash plans to offer rapid delivery for retailers

    To enable its entrance into the 15-minute delivery fray in New York City, the company has created DashCorps to employ full-time couriers. 

    By Jeff Wells • Dec. 6, 2021
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Survey: Majority of diners now tip 20% or more

    Fifty-eight percent of customers have increased the amount they tip servers and delivery drivers since the start of the pandemic, according to Popmenu.

    By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 3, 2021
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    YinYang via Getty Images
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    Study: Teens make up nearly a quarter of limited-service restaurant workforce

    The restaurant industry employs proportionally more teenagers, age 18 and younger, than it did in 2019, according to Black Box Intelligence data. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 2, 2021
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Ahead of Starbucks Union election, a look back at the campaign

    On Dec. 9, the National Labor Relations Board will count ballots from three Buffalo-area stores voting on unionization, and Restaurant Dive will be on the ground to cover the outcome.

    Nov. 30, 2021
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    SCOTUS to hear Taco Bell employee's arbitration case

    A key point of contention concerns whether, as the employee claimed, her employer waived its right to arbitration by acting inconsistently with that right.

    By Ryan Golden • Nov. 29, 2021
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    3 ways tipping laws have changed in 2021

    From tipping pools to the 80/20 rule, the U.S. Department of Labor has made major revisions to how tips are calculated, which may pressure operators.

    By Nov. 24, 2021
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Study: 28% of unvaccinated consumers would consider lying about their status in order to dine out

    While 59% of U.S. consumers support businesses requiring vaccination, 21% do not, according to research from Qualtrics.

    By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 23, 2021
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks workers in Arizona petition for a union election

    The growth of Starbucks' union drive may reflect increased labor power in the restaurant industry, visible in one-day strikes in non-union restaurant locations.

    By Nov. 19, 2021
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    Courtesy of Burgerville
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    Burgerville and IWW ratify a contract in fast food first

    The contract, which covers Burgerville's five unionized shops and expires in May 2023, secures wage raises and tipping, along with new benefits. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 20, 2021
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    dapiki moto. (2020). "New Normal" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Unsplash.
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    The restaurant labor crisis in 5 stats

    Data shows how the COVID-19 delta variant erased much of the recovery for operators and drove restaurant worker quit rates to a historic high.

    By Nov. 12, 2021
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks workers allege union busting

    Employees claim the coffee chain violated the National Labor Relations Act two days before former CEO Howard Schultz visited Buffalo ahead of a union vote.

    By Nov. 8, 2021
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Court stays employer vaccine mandate

    The 5th Circuit ordered the stay due to "grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate."

    By Kathryn Moody • Nov. 8, 2021
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    OSHA: Employers have 60 days to mandate COVID-19 vaccines

    It is a monumental — if expected — development for workplaces throughout the U.S. But expect the news on the Emergency Temporary Standard to move fast.

    By Ryan Golden • Updated Nov. 4, 2021
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DoorDash adds delivery worker safety features

    Following increases in theft and violence against its couriers, DoorDash added SafeDash so these workers can contact an ADT agent to request assistance during situations where they feel unsafe.

    By Nov. 4, 2021
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    Permission granted by Southeastern Freight Lines
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    NRA pushes Biden admin for supply chain solutions

    Ninety-five percent of restaurants have experienced significant supply delays or shortages of key food items in recent months, according to the National Restaurant Association. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 2, 2021
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Survey: 67% of NYC restaurants lost customers to vaccine mandate

    A New York State Restaurant Association study found more than 90% of Big Apple restaurateurs have experienced customer-facing challenges around enforcing the mandate.

    By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 1, 2021