Food-service workers and their allies are calling on Congress to support the new "Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights," a document calling for higher wages, better working conditions and access to health care.

The movement urged Congress to raise the federal minimum wage for tipped workers, which is $2.13 per hour and is the standard in 17 states.

Sekou Siby, president and CEO of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and ROC Action, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 restaurant workers.

"85% of them experienced wage loss, 91% have received no compensation for working in hazardous conditions, 34% had no access to personal protective equipment, and one in ten workers was forced to go to work, while COVID positive," Siby outlined.

The bill of rights calls for legislation to guarantee paid time off, sick leave, consistent schedules, health insurance benefits and the right to form unions. Opponents of federal legislation cited concerns about the cost and argued it is up to individual states to set and enforce labor protections.

California is making progress. The governor recently signed a law creating a fast food council which will have the power to raise workers' wages and set working conditions. However, it is already being challenged.

Olivia Tovar-Urbina, a restaurant worker from Los Angeles, said she has worked in the field with long hours and low pay for 17 years.

"As a worker, I know what I deserve," Tovar-Urbina asserted. "And this is my reason to call for change. I believe the Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights is going to be beneficial not only for me but to many other workers, by protecting workers, improving our salary and empowering our labor rights."

Sammy Chavin, federal policy coordinator with the group Family Values @ Work, explained the philosophy behind the push.

"The Bill of Rights will ensure that all restaurant workers will be entitled to time to rest, time to heal, and to the security of continued income and a job to come back to," Chavin pointed out. "We can create a world with an economy based on care, equity, and respect for workers."

Overflow crowds are showing up at town hall meetings in Iowa, which had been planned to allow people to ask questions of their congressional representatives. But the lawmakers are not showing up.

Constituents are attending town hall meetings at libraries across the state to ask about potential changes to Social Security, cuts to government agencies - and rollbacks of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

But Iowa American Federation of Labor President Charlie Wishman said U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks - R-Davenport - and U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn - R-Bondurant - are among lawmakers who haven't shown up to listen.

"And if they don't show up, we still have crowds that are standing room only or overflowing," said Wishman, "just to try and talk to an empty chair."

Wishman said advocacy groups are trying to find other ways to connect people with their representatives - including by writing postcards or emails, or calling their Washington offices with questions about the Trump administration's effort to reduce spending and downsize the federal government.

The advisory group, the Department of Government Efficiency - overseen by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk - has announced plans to terminate leases for seven federal office buildings in Iowa, including for the IRS, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wishman said the cuts mean terminating important positions for federal workers in Iowa.

"Bird flu people," said Wishman, "or they work at the disease lab up in Ames or, like, something that we really need staffed."

Wishman said since lawmakers didn't show up to the scheduled town hall meetings, attendees wrote their questions on postcards - which he says will be delivered to the congressional representatives' offices.

Apprenticeship programs are getting more attention these days to help fill skilled labor shortages but accessibility is seen is a barrier and Minnesota could boost support for a program that opens its arms to disadvantaged populations.

A Minnesota House committee heard testimony this week on a bill that would provide $800,000 over the next two budget years to the Building Strong Communities program, a regional nonprofit spearheaded by construction union partners.

Natalie Pilrain, a recent graduate of the program, said as a single mom trying to finish high school, it gave her the chance at a promising career by overcoming up-front hurdles.

"At the time, I didn't have extra money lying around for work boots or hotel expenses for going up to the training center," Pilrain pointed out. "Building Strong Communities covered those costs for me."

She is now earning strong wages as an apprentice with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. Bill sponsors said additional state funds could help the program further fulfill its mission to recruit women, minorities and veterans. The measure has bipartisan sponsors but like other proposals this spring, it faces an uncertain future with Minnesota's budget surplus getting smaller.

Dorlisa Squires, also a program graduate, said officials were very responsive when she asked about it. After working in the medical device field for many years, Squires told the committee she wound up homeless without a promising career outlook. She stressed her new journey through the trades has given her a fresh start.

"Now I have a career and now I have placement," Squires explained. "I have an apartment, a car."

Officials said the free training has led to 107 job placements over a two-year period.

A new study commissioned by the federal Department of Labor said registered apprenticeship programs dramatically increase the ability of participants to afford basic needs, especially initiatives led by unions. The movement comes as the industry still hears complaints about long-standing issues such as nepotism.


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The seven national parks in Arkansas have not been spared from job cuts by the federal government.

Nationwide, 1,700 park employees have been let go by the Trump administration.

Eboni Preston, southeast regional director and National Park Service diversity lead for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the cuts will impact park services and the Arkansas economy.

"By fewer people being able to come to the parks, enjoy the parks, hotels are suffering, restaurants are suffering," Preston pointed out. "Walking up and down the community, it's really taking a toll, and so places like Hot Springs National Park and Buffalo National River, unfortunately they won't get the visitation that they did before."

She noted park visitors will also experience reduced hours, longer lines and closed campgrounds and facilities. Anyone going to a national park is encouraged to check the park's website for schedule changes.

Last year a record 331 million people visited national parks. Preston stressed with 9% of the workforce gone, park visitors will have a different experience this year.

"The National Park Service is always going to prioritize safety," Preston explained. "The rangers are going to do everything that they can to manage that, but what that means is there may be fewer opportunities to experience some of those unique places, especially if they're difficult to get to. So, just be mindful of that and then offering grace to the people that are there."

Preston added although morale is down, park employees are dedicated to help you have a good experience.

"It's really, really hard, but they're a committed group of people," Preston observed. "They're still smiling, they're still prioritizing the visitors. They're still making sure that everything is safe, they still are committed to the work that they signed up to do. You talk to most rangers, if you talk to most staff, they really feel called to this work."


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