Coming on the heels of the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA's) "lobby day" on Capitol Hill, the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) announced the formation of Restaurants Advancing Industry Standards in Employment (RAISE). While the NRA represents and lobbies on behalf of the interests of some of the country’s largest chain restaurant corporations, RAISE is an alternative restaurant association made up of nearly 100 business owners across the country, advocating for the real needs of the industry, as well as the workers it employs.

“For too long Congress has heard only from the National Restaurant Association—the other NRA—which represents corporate lobbyists in the restaurant industry,” said Saru Jayaraman, co-founder and co-director of ROC-United. “RAISE represents the voices of small sustainable restaurant owners who make long-term profits by providing livable wages and benefits to their employees.”

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, and Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.), sponsor of the WAGES Act, joined Jayaraman on Capitol Hill for the April 17 announcement. Restaurant-member employers and employees also attended to discuss raising industry standards through fair and sustainable practices, and the need to increase the minimum wage for all restaurant employees—tipped and non-tipped.

With the formation of RAISE, ROC-United aims to support small- and medium-sized business owners as they work toward the “high road,” by championing practices that include, among others, giving their employees livable wages, paid sick days, access to affordable health care, workplace safety, diverse and equitable employment and career advancement opportunities.

For more on RAISE and its partners, read ROC-United’s report: Taking the High-Road: A How-To Guide for Successful Restaurant Employers.