One year later: Workers see some raises at Bill Miller BBQ

The Youth Leadership Organization and Southwest Workers Union were once again in front of the headquarters of Bill Millers Restaurant.  One year since we launched our campaign 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' demanding that all employees start at $9/hour regardless of the income level of the surrounding community, workers have seen, on average, an increase in 50 cents to $1 an hour.  

We say that Bill Miller needs to do more to give all workers at least $9/hour.

Since July 2007, we have achieved:

• Youth led research, action and media outreach
  
•  Passed out fact sheets at 18 Bill Miller Restaurants 
• 1200 +  Equal Pay for Equal Work petition signatures from the customers, the community, and Bill Miller workers
•  Sent in signatures from petition to Head Quarters
•   4 Letters, numerous visits and phone calls to the board to set up meeting
• Created Bill Miller Post Card;  1000 passed out and sent to headquarters from customers, workers, community
• 2 Community-Worker Youth-led Marches:  (1) August to commemorate the long struggle for a living wage in San Antonio and (2) October (Halloween March) to bring to light to the ‘scary’ wages paid by Bill Miller
• Created outreach materials & propaganda
• Christmas Caroling : ‘Equal Pay Jingle’

Victories for Workers

¨      Bill Miller Raised Wages

o   1 restaurant received $0.25 raise

o   15 restaurants received a $0.50 raise

o   2 restaurants received $0.75 raise

o   10 restaurants received $1.00 raise

¨      There are no longer restaurants at $6.50 an hour

¨      In the beginning there were 2 restaurant paying at $9.00

o   Now there are now 9 restaurants paying at $9.00

¨      Over 150 youth & young workers have participated in marches & rallies, received news coverage and created a YouTube video