We are appalled, but not surprised, given how pervasive sexual harassment and abuse are in the restaurant industry. Julie Ruiz, who worked at Pizza Ponte at Disney Springs in Florida, and her coworker reported sexual harassment by their supervisor.

The restaurant management kept this supervisor on the job for another six months so Julie became a leader of her union and spoke out about her working conditions and sexual harassment experience. She helped distribute a flyer with her photo and a quote explaining why she needed changes at her job.

One week after distributing the flyer, Julie was suspended and then fired--just for wearing an earbud while walking into work. Pizza Ponte is owned by Delaware North, a massive multinational food service and hospitality company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, with over 55,000 employees worldwide and over $3.2 billion in annual revenues.

Delaware North operates restaurants in lodging, sporting, airport, gambling, and entertainment venues across the United States. As workers and customers, we have the power to ensure that employers create fair workplaces. Julie's workplace was not fair.

We are calling on Delaware North to bring Julie back to work and allow Disney Springs workers a fair process to organize a union! Will you have their backs, too?

No woman should have to choose between her livelihood and enduring sexual harassment at work. But, sadly, this is the case for far too many women–and some men, too!--in the restaurant industry.

Women in the leisure and hospitality industries account for 14 percent of all sexual harassment claims--the most of any industry and double the rate of the general workforce, according to the research and advocacy organization Restaurants Opportunities Centers (ROC) United. The primary reason for the abuse is unequal power dynamics due to low wages paid by the restaurant, reporting to male managers with more power, and these workers’ reliance on tips.

In fact, sexual harassment in the restaurant industry skyrocketed during the pandemic, as male customers asked women workers to take off their masks and show them their smiles for a tip.

Most workers don’t report this abuse because they don't know that it constitutes sexual harassment and/or they fear retaliation in the way of losing their jobs for defending themselves.

This is unacceptable. Delaware North can show that it supports workers who speak up about sexual harassment by reinstating Julie. Sign the petition now calling on Delaware North to reinstate Julie!