Ever wonder what it’s like to work in one of NY City’s restaurants? It can be hell. Low wages, long hours, and no benefits. Add to that discrimination, sexual harassment, and stolen tips and the romance of being a chef or a line cook quickly evaporates. And that’s only the back of the house. Waiters generally get no hourly wage and rely entirely on their tips. So if managers take a cut, they’re left with a fraction of what they’ve actually earned. The industry relies on immigrant workers who are often intimidated if not simply fired if they challenge their employer.

Today on GRITtv we talk with Sekou Siby, co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York. They recently won a big victory against the Fireman Hospitality Group of New York and their model of organizing restaurant employees is spreading to other cities. Chicago, New Orleans, Detroit, and soon Miami.