The times they are a-changin’ in the restaurant world as changes in consumer preferences and advances in technology are drastically altering business models and restaurant operations. We sit down with one of the leading drivers of change in our industry, REEF Technology, and their head of communications Mason Harrison, to understand the changing environment and how REEF looks at their role in that process. And labor shortage?...what labor shortage? Last weekend, Amazon hosted a 24 hour virtual job fair and over a million potential applicants participated, over half of them in the United States. We’ll take a look at why some entry-level employers have all the help they need. And we’ll give an update on this week’s unionization campaigns with key developments in both the Starbucks campaign in Buffalo and the Darwin’s effort in Boston. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Another group of coffee shops - this time in Cambridge, Massachusetts - has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking union representation. This is the latest example of the uptick of grassroots-based union organizing campaigns currently underway in the industry. We'll discuss this effort, update you on the ongoing Starbucks effort, and what may be next for the industry. And there was extensive media coverage this week highlighting the steadily growing advantage that retailers have in the battle for employees. We’ll take a look at that and what policy ramifications may potentially arise that will impact the labor shortage. And Gavin Newsom not only survived his recall election, one could argue he came out of it stronger than ever. We’ll discuss the results and if the outcome in California has any national implications regarding next year’s election cycle. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Starbucks is facing a significant union organizing effort in Buffalo, but unlike recent campaigns, this one is not run by a local independent union but by allies of the SEIU itself. Phil Wilson, President & General Counsel of the Labor Relations Institute, joins the pod once again to walk us through what is happening on the ground in Buffalo and why it matters to all employers in the market. And the wine and spirits industry is stepping up to the plate, taking concrete action to address and prevent sexual harassment not only in their industry but other sectors of the hospitality community as well. We are joined by the leaders of that effort, Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and Chris Swonger, the CEO of DISCUS, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States stop by to discuss their program, how it came about, and more importantly, why it matters going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

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How can listeners register for upcoming trainings and participate in this effort? REGISTER for upcoming Level 1 and 2 Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Trainings here: https://www.womenofthevine.com/cpages/rainn-trainings-1

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, anonymous 24/7 support via phone at 800.656.4673 or chat via the online hotline (https://hotline.rainn.org/online?_ga=2.224902682.1092492588.1611615003-2049378457.1554892940). RAINN’s website (www.rainn.org) also provides information on supporting loved ones who are survivors, helping yourself heal if you’ve been directly affected by sexual violence, and how to be part of creating safer communities.

Legal Disclaimer: Women of the Vine and Spirits (WOTVS) and Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) are not liable for any damages related to the use of these programs and materials (“Program”). Anyone electing to participate does so on a voluntary basis and agrees to waive any claims against WOTVS/DISCUS related to the Program. Nothing in the Program constitutes legal advice, WOTVS/DISCUS make no warranty as to Program content, and any views or opinions shared during the Program does not necessarily reflect the views of WOTVS/DISCUS or their members.

The unions had a big week as a Midwest chain of coffee shops lost a close union vote this week, the latest in a series of successful organizing campaigns in the upper Midwest blue wall states. Is the health and safety crisis we are facing just what the doctor ordered for the labor community? We’ll take a look at the opening the pandemic has provided. And some new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has thrown a little cold water on the ongoing narrative around the impact of unemployment benefits on the labor shortage. We’ll take a look at what the numbers say - and don’t say - and how that impacts the conversation going forward. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The AFL-CIO makes its choice today to name Richard Trumpka’s interim successor and all indications are that Liz Shuler, Trumpka’s loyal right hand, will get the nod making her the first woman to ever lead the nation's largest union. Mike Saltsman, a frequent contributor to the pod and a partner with Berman & Company joins us to share his expertise on what the future looks like for Big Labor and what it means for business owners. And we’ll lead off the legislative scorecard with a deep dive on the current state of the battle over masks, vaccine passports and boosters as well as report on the rest of the legislative and regulatory developments this week.

More cities are requiring vaccination passports and masks for indoor dining with one state even bringing back dining restrictions. It feels like we are going backwards quickly and companies are increasingly enacting their own policies. We’ll discuss the increasing pressure on operators as the virus continues to rage. And the Democrats find themselves with their bench thinning as Andrew Cuomo is forced out of office and Gavin Newsom in California facing a very tight recall. Both went from presidential aspirants to damaged goods in the blink of an eye. We’ll take a look at the political situation for the blue team. And with the second infrastructure bill on the move, the debates on national paid leave, national childcare and a host of other labor community priorities are commencing. We’ll take a look at what’s ahead for the industry. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Masks and vaccinations are the story of the week with Governor’s squabbling with the President, Governor’s squabbling with each other, attorneys general squabbling with Mayor’s and once again, operators caught in the middle of both a health crisis and a political food fight. The two largest cities in America are soon to be mandating vaccination records to eat indoors and major companies are starting to enact their own policies. We’ll discuss the situation and where operators may find themselves going forward. And Sean Kennedy, the EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association stops by the pod again to help us sort out the state of play with regard to the infrastructure package, why the Association supports it, and what may be next that impacts bottom lines of operators. And we’ll discuss the unexpected passing of AFL-CIO head Richard Trumpka and what the nation’s largest union may look like in the years ahead. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The Delta Variant is threatening to significantly disrupt the economy again just as the industry was showing signs of a meaningful recovery. And with it will bring new public affairs and employee relations challenges for operators including masks, immunizations and potentially the return of dining restrictions to name a few. We’ll take a look at what might be in store for restaurant owners both operationally and reputationally as the virus makes a comeback. And data continues to emerge on the impacts of supplemental unemployment benefits on the labor market. We’ll take a look at the latest information and discuss what could lay ahead for operators. And a new study by researchers at Notre Dame and Penn State examines the potential linkage between the practice of tipping and the increased risks of sexual harassment. We’ll discuss how these findings could lead to more extensive research and potentially place tipping itself under more scrutiny. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

This week, Washington, DC was a hotbed of legislative activity critically important to restaurant operators. Hearings on the nominations of industry adversaries, pieces of the PRO Act potentially being passed through reconciliation, the infrastructure bill and the fate of paid leave and child care are just a few of the issues in play during a busy week in the nation’s capital. We will dive into all that and try to sort it all out. And California has just passed the nation’s first statewide Universal Basic Income Program. Whether it’s UBI, the CARES Act, unemployment benefits or forgivable loans to employers, we’ll discuss the growing bi-partisan consensus around direct government payments to both individuals and small businesses. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Maine is about to enact the most far-reaching product stewardship law in the country dramatically redefining how traditional recycling plans have been structured. Following models in Europe and Canada, everyone along the supply chain - including restaurants and retailers - will have significant new responsibilities in handling waste and other packaging as well as bearing the cost of recycling. We talk to Curtis Picard, CEO & President of the Retail Association of Maine and Scot Case, the Vice-President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the National Retail Federation to better understand what is happening in this space and what operators can expect going forward. And Gallup is out with their newest edition of annual polling on how optimistic or pessimistic Americans are regarding quality of life and the future. We’ll discuss what impacts those attitudes may have on not only politics and voting but also on spending decisions in the marketplace. We’ll discuss those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.