It’s all hands in! Sign this petition to support nail salon workers!

New York State Legislature

Getting a manicure after a long week at work to unwind and practice self-care is a time-old tradition. But it’s not often we stop to pause and think about the hardworking individuals who make these moments of rest and relaxation possible.

Despite the shine and allure of the salon’s exterior, nail salon technicians experience harrowing conditions on the job: labor rights violations at their workplace, wage theft, health and safety concerns which have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no proper ventilation and little personal protective equipment, nail salon workers are risking their lives to barely earn a minimum wage.

Now, nail salon workers are not just sharing their experiences, they are also speaking up about their ideas for solutions. In January of 2022, nail salon workers and advocates introduced a bill, the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council, in the state legislature proposing a council to bring together workers, employers and the state to co-create ways to bring industry-wide change.

Whether we realize it or not, nail salons are not just momentary sanctuaries of self care, they’re an instrumental part of our neighborhoods and our communities. In New York alone, there are an estimated 5,700 salons in every corner of the state, and tens of thousands of nail technicians. They are women of color, immigrants, mothers, daughters, your neighbors, and caretakers. And they are speaking up.

But we can’t do this alone. Consumers like you have an equally important role in bringing change to the industry, and that’s why we ask you to sign this pledge, to show love for the courageous individuals who take care of you in the salon.

It’s all hands in: together, there is a possibility that will make the nail salon industry a different kind: one that centers on health, dignity, and justice of not just some, but all.

Sign the pledge today to show your support for nail salon workers and the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Act.

Be a part of the change, join our movement and spread the love.

#allhandsin
#healthdignityjustice

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The New York Healthy Nail Salons Coalition (“NYHNSC”) is a coalition created in 2014 to transform the New York nail salon industry into healthy and just workplaces. Since its founding, the coalition has won the Nail Salon Workers’ Bill of Rights in 2015, and successfully advocated to eliminate the tipped subminimum wage for nail salon workers in 2019.

To: New York State Legislature
From: [Your Name]

I would like to show my support for workers’ rights by signing this petition to support the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council (S8166/A9398). This bill proposes the creation of a council to bring together workers, employers and the state to co-create ways to bring industry-wide change to the lives of tens of thousands of hardworking nail salon technicians and thousands of salons in the state of New York.

Nail salons are such an instrumental part of our lives, our neighborhoods and our communities. In New York state alone, there are an estimated 5,700 salons and tens of thousands of nail technicians. They are women of color, immigrants, mothers, daughters, caretakers.

Nail salon technicians are sharing about the harrowing conditions on the job: labor rights violations at their workplace, wage theft, health and safety concerns which have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no proper ventilation and little personal protective equipment, nail salon workers are risking their lives to barely earn a minimum wage.

As conscientious consumers, we stand with workers. A broken system cannot be fixed piece by piece; we must rebuild with a new foundation. We believe that we can create a different kind of nail salon industry: one that centers the health, dignity and safety of all - workers, customers, and small business owners. The long-term sustainability of our industry depends on a model where workers’ rights are respected, consumer health is protected, and salon owners no longer feel that they have to engage in illegal and exploitative practices to stay in business.

I urge my state representatives to support the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council (S8166/A9398).