Restaurant Opportunities Center-Los Angeles

Restaurant Opportunities Center-Los Angeles organizes restaurant workers throughout Los Angeles County to improve wages and working conditions. It is part of ROC United, a national organization activating thousands of restaurant workers, employers, allies and consumers. LA Chapter Lead Organizer Manuel Villanueva worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years.

This job literally saved my life

“I became unemployed and I was looking for a job for over three months. My dad got sick and we were about to lose our apartment. I’ve been taking care of my parents for over 12 years now. And I said, you know what? Every job that I go to, it’s either I’m too dark or I’m too old and not as pretty to be on the front [as serving staff]. That was the feedback I used to get at every restaurant that was hiring. That was my breaking point. I was ready to take my own life. That lie I heard over time that I was disposable wasn’t a lie anymore. When I finally found employment again, I understood that certain conditions I needed to adapt to in order for me to stay employed were not okay. And so after finding out about ROC-LA and getting involved—first being a volunteer and learning that my voice had power and weight in society—that was when I realized that there were a lot of people feeling the same way and they were more isolated. I said, ‘You know what? I wouldn’t want anybody to go through the same situation. If I have this knowledge now, it is my responsibility to share it with others so they don’t feel that they should just settle for scraps.’ Seeing the power that the members have and how they push themselves. They push you to move forward and they take that responsibility on their own. So that’s what keeps me going every day. [As an organizer for ROC-LA now] this job literally saved my life.”

LACDMH Strategic Plan Points 1a.1 education, 1a.2 engagement, 1a.3 follow up, 1b.2 kin, 1b.3 purpose, 4.2 organizational process, 4.3 organizational outcomes.