Reporters, producers, editors — reach the OFW press team at press@onefairwage.org. We respond same-day on active news cycles.
As Seen In
The New York Times•The Washington Post•NPR•Bloomberg•The Atlantic•USA Today•Eater•MSNBC•The Guardian
Watch — broadcast & video coverage
Selected video coverage of OFW campaigns and OFW spokespeople. The full library lives on the OFW YouTube channel. Reporters and producers needing B-roll, interview footage, or specific clips for a story can reach the press team at press@onefairwage.org.
NBC4 Washington · July 30, 2026
“$25 minimum wage: Could DC restaurants survive, adapt? Without it, can your server?” NBC4’s 4 More Context on the D.C. ballot measure and what a $25 floor would mean for workers, restaurants, and diners.
Featured documentaries: Saru is featured in Anthony Bourdain’s Wasted! The Story of Food Waste (2017) and Frontline’s America’s Patchwork of Power. The Federal LW4A Act launch (April 28, 2026) and Albany Lobby Day (May 27, 2026) press conferences are available in full upon request.
What we can speak to
Federal: the Living Wage For All Act (introduced April 28, 2026 by Reps. Ramirez & Mejía) and the federal subminimum wage — coalition materials at livingwageforall.org
State campaigns: active fights in California, New York, Illinois, Maryland and Baltimore, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Hawaiʻi, Nome (Alaska), and Washington D.C.
The subminimum wage: economic, racial, and gender-equity analysis — including the EEOC data tying it to harassment
Restaurant industry labor conditions: staffing, turnover, tipping, harassment, wage theft
RAISE High Road Restaurants: the 1,000-employer network of restaurants paying fair wages
OFW research: 93 published reports including polling, small-business comparatives, racial-equity audits, and the deepest tipped-work data set in the U.S.
Spokespeople
Saru Jayaraman — President & Co-Founder. Author of Forked: A New Standard for American Dining (Oxford University Press) and Behind the Kitchen Door. Director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley. Available for national and state-level commentary, on-camera interviews, panels, and live broadcast.
State-level organizers and worker-leaders are available for regional coverage. Contact the press team for routing.
Recent news & releases
OFW announcements and coalition milestones, newest first. Items that link out are third-party coverage rather than OFW releases.
July 16, 2026 · National Feature
The New Republic Builds A National Feature On The Coalition’s Core Argument: The Affordability Crisis Is A Wage Crisis
“We’re in a Wage Crisis Too” — The New Republic’s feature carries the Living Wage For All argument to a national audience: the affordability crisis Americans feel at the register is a wage crisis, and a $25 federal floor is the answer to it. Read at The New Republic →
July 15, 2026 · Bay Area
KALW Profiles The People Behind Alameda County’s $30 An Hour Minimum Wage Initiative
KALW (NPR Bay Area) profiles the workers and organizers behind the Alameda County $30 campaign, whose worker-led drive gathered more than 100,000 signatures. The campaign is run by a coalition that includes Black Organizing Project, Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, UAW Region 6, and One Fair Wage. Listen at KALW →
July 8, 2026 · Alameda County, California
Alameda County Workers Qualify First-In-The-Nation $30 Living Wage For All Measure
Workers, organizers, and coalition partners — Black Organizing Project, Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, UAW Region 6, and One Fair Wage — delivered boxes of petitions at the Alameda County Registrar. The worker-led drive gathered more than 100,000 signatures, and the Registrar certified the measure on July 23. If passed, it would establish the country’s first voter-enacted $30 minimum wage, with the same wage floor for every worker it covers. A January 2026 Lake Research Partners survey found 71% likely-voter support. Full California campaign page →
June 2026 · Federal · Podcast
Sen. Chris Murphy Makes The Case For $25 — Full Podcast Episode
Sen. Chris Murphy sits down for an extended conversation on why a $25 federal minimum wage is the fight now — and why it can win. Full episode available on YouTube. Watch on YouTube →
June 28–29, 2026 · Washington D.C.
Second Annual Living Wage For All Convening — 100+ Organization Coalition Convenes In Washington
Coalition partners from across the country gathered in Washington D.C. for the second annual Living Wage For All Convening. Three days of strategy, training, and mobilization — June 27 Mobilize & Connect working session; June 28–29 convening plus the “$7.25 vs. $25” grocery giveaway on the Hill. More on the LW4A page →
June 29, 2026 · Capitol Hill
“$7.25 vs. $25” Grocery Giveaway on Capitol Hill — Reps. Mejía, Jackson, Stansbury, and Tlaib Join Coalition at the Podium
On the steps of Lutheran Church of the Reformation, OFW and the LW4A coalition set up two tables side by side. One hour of work at $7.25 buys a gallon of milk and a carton of eggs. One hour at $25 buys a full bag of groceries. Reps. Analília Mejía, Jonathan Jackson, Melanie Stansbury, and Rashida Tlaib joined Saru Jayaraman and worker leaders. After the press conference the coalition handed grocery bags to D.C. residents. DC News Now + NBC 4 aired the story. Recent moments on the LW4A page →
June 25, 2026 · Federal · Senate
Sen. Chris Murphy Launches the Senate Companion to the Living Wage For All Act — With Sens. Blumenthal, Kim, and Wyden as Cosponsors
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) launched the Senate companion to the Living Wage For All Act on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, joined by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) as cosponsors, plus coalition leaders and worker organizers. The bill — H.R. 8555 in the House — would set a $25 federal minimum wage phased in over several years (first-year floor: $12/hour) and end every subminimum wage. The Washington Post broke the story that morning; six more outlets followed by end of day. Washington Post →
May 27, 2026 · New York
Living Wage For All NY Coalition Rallies at the State Capitol
Tipped restaurant workers, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated workers, workers with disabilities, and faith, racial-justice, immigrant, and disability-rights organizations rallied on the Million-Dollar Staircase for the Living Wage For All NY Act (A10507), the One Fair Wage Act (A1200B / S415B), the Prison Wage Act, and the Disability and Age Wage Equity Act. Lead sponsors: Asm. González-Rojas, Sen. Jackson, Asm. Steck. Worker quotes & bills package →
May 18, 2026 · California
At the Musk v. Altman Trial, Alameda Workers Demand a Piece of the Pie
While Elon Musk and Sam Altman argued over the next economy inside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Courthouse, Saru Jayaraman and Iris Barrera of Trabajadores Unidos Workers United led a press availability outside — announcing the worker-led signature drive for the $30 Living Wage For All measure. “Workers in Alameda County will not settle for crumbs.” Covered by KALW, ABC7, KTVU FOX 2, and the AP wire. Full statement →
April 28, 2026 · Federal
Rep. Delia Ramirez Introduces Federal Living Wage For All Act (H.R.8555) with 25 House Co-Sponsors and 100+ Organization Coalition
The federal bill phases in a $25 minimum wage by 2031 (large employers) and 2038 (small), ends all subminimum wage carve-outs, and indexes to two-thirds of the national median wage thereafter. Co-sponsors include Mejía (NJ-11), García (IL-04), Khanna (CA-17), Jayapal (WA-07), Casar (TX-35), Tlaib (MI-12), and Norton (DC-AL). Public launch at the U.S. Capitol with workers. Read the bill (Congress.gov) →
April 16, 2026 · New York City
“No Public Space for Poverty Pay” — OFW NY Action at City Hall on Outdoor Dining Subsidies
OFW and Living Wage For All NY rallied at NYC City Hall against the city subsidizing outdoor dining sheds for restaurants paying the subminimum wage. The action framed the “piece of the pie” campaign theme that ran through the May 27 Albany Lobby Day. Press kit: photos by Erin available on request. More on the NY campaign →
February 2026 · Illinois
Three Years After Chicago Passed One Fair Wage, Restaurant Employment Is Up and License Cancellations Are Down 50%
OFW analysis of BLS data and City of Chicago BACP records: 856 new restaurant licenses since the ordinance took effect July 1, 2024; license renewals unchanged at 81%; cancellations down 50% in 2024 vs. 2023. Labor costs increased only 3% despite an 8% base wage increase. Read the report →
June 2025 · Washington D.C.
D.C. Restaurant Employment Hit Its All-Time High After Initiative 82 — 31,100 Jobs
Per BLS records, D.C. full-service restaurant employment reached 31,100 in June 2024 — the highest in 35 years of recordkeeping, and it came after the I-82 wage increases began. 6 of the top 10 employment months in D.C. history occurred since I-82 wage increases began. Tips up 25% above the national average. Full study →
July 2024 · National
“Short Changed” Report: Eliminating Income Taxes on Tips Will Not Make Subminimum Wages Livable
OFW analysis shows 66% of tipped workers earn too little to benefit from a tax exemption on tips, and the federal “no tax on tips” proposal leaves the structural problem — the $2.13 subminimum wage — intact. OFW supports Rep. Horsford’s TIPS Act as the workable alternative: end the subminimum AND tax tips. Read the report →
To get OFW press releases by email, contact press@onefairwage.org with “Add me to press list” in the subject.
In the news — selected coverage
Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan, One Fair Wage Act co-sponsor) and Asm. Phil Steck (D-Schenectady, Disability and Age Wage Equity Act sponsor) on the Million-Dollar Staircase. Living Wage For All NY Coalition Albany Lobby Day — May 27, 2026. Photo: One Fair Wage.
A working selection of journalism on the OFW campaigns. Not exhaustive — for broader coverage by topic or state, email press@onefairwage.org.
California — the $30 Alameda County measure
KALW (NPR Bay Area) — “As the Musk v. Altman trial wraps up, Alameda workers demand a ‘piece of the pie’” (May 18, 2026)
The Oaklandside — “A $30 minimum wage for Oakland?” (March 20, 2026)
OFW’s position: the “no tax on tips” proposal is “a distraction from the real fight.” 66% of tipped workers make too little to benefit from the tax exemption. What workers need is a full minimum wage with tips on top — not a tax cut on poverty wages.
Common Dreams — “Senate-Passed No Tax on Tips Bill a ‘Distraction From the Real Fight’”
Common Dreams — “Harris Urged to End Subminimum Wage, Not Just Taxes on Tips”
The campaigns that built to today. This archive was assembled from One Fair Wage’s earlier press listings and every link below was checked in September 2026; a small number of outlets block automated checks but resolve normally in a browser. Ordered by campaign, then by outlet. Tap a heading to open it.
National press & opinion (22)
The New York Times — “How Raises to the Minimum Wage Are Changing Restaurants”
The New York Times — “Battle Over Wage Rules for Tipped Workers Is Heating Up” (Oct 13, 2022)
The Boston Globe — “Should Massachusetts increase the minimum wage to $20 per hour” (Nov 24, 2023)
Boston Herald — “Tipped workers rally in Boston for equal pay” (June 15, 2022)
Boston.com — “Should the tipped minimum wage be abolished? Lawmakers hear from advocates, servers on proposed ballot question” (March 13, 2024)
MassLive — “Fresh off 2023 wins, advocates eye hiking Mass.’ tipped wage in 2024” (Dec 2023)
Greenfield Recorder — “My Turn: Subminimum wage is a legacy of slavery - time for one fair wage”
The Salem News — “Workers look forward to a bump up in minimum wages in 2024”
Total Food Service — “One Fair Wage Makes Progress In Bay State Battle To Increase Minimum Wage”
WCVB — “Advocates rally to get rid of minimum wage for tip workers”
WCVB — “Lawmakers hold hearing on push to raise minimum wage for tipped workers”
WCVB — “Movement to raise Massachusetts minimum wage for tipped workers”
WCVB — “‘It’s not right’: Push to increase minimum wage for tipped workers in Massachusetts”
WCVB — “Campaign to change minimum wage for service workers invites officials to be ‘Server for an Hour’”
WBZ — “State Officials Tag in as Tipped Workers Fight For Higher Wages”
Wicked Local — “Massachusetts minimum wage increase for tipped workers would bring pay to $14.25 per hour” (June 23, 2022)
Maryland & Baltimore (12)
The Baltimore Sun — “Dan Rodricks: The problem with Maryland’s ‘tipped wage’ system and why it needs to go” (Jan 25, 2024)
The Baltimore Sun — “The subminimum wage servers are paid in Maryland is a racist holdover, will it take a constitutional amendment to get rid of it?” (March 7, 2024)
The Baltimore Sun — “DC is raising its minimum wage for tipped workers. This group wants Maryland to be next.”
Maryland Center on Economic Policy — “Tips on Top in Montgomery County: Guaranteeing Full Wage Protection Would Ultimately Put $150 Million in Workers’ Pockets”
