On Friday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will return to bartending to show solidarity with restaurant and tipped workers.
In a tweet, she called out those who have looked down on the service industry. She wrote, “To the silver spoon classists saying they’re going to ‘make AOC bartend again’: You’re in luck! I’ll be bartending in NY-14 this week to promote a national living wage. So there you have it, ya bunch of milk drinkers ??”
AOC signed on to bartend so she could help spread awareness of the Raise the Wage Act and end below-minimum wage for tipped workers. The event is organized by Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United, and the restaurant where AOC will bartend will be revealed later this week. ROC has urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to institute the One Fair Wage, which would make it so that members of the service industry don’t have to rely on tips.
“We’re very grateful for our partnership with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who fully understands the struggles of these workers,” ROC co-founder and president Saru Jayaraman said. “As a former tipped worker, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez can shed light on the importance of One Fair Wage to lift up these workers and their families.”