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Union-Backed Restaurant Group Denounced For Sexual Assault Hypocrisy

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A union-backed restaurant association frequently ignores sexual assault and unsanitary conditions except when it’s politically expedient, according to information uncovered Thursday.

The Restaurant Opportunities Center United (ROC) claims its mission is to improve wages and working conditions. Critics warn the group is nothing more than a front for labor unions trying to push progressive policies. America Rising Squared found the group has also ignored sexual assault complaints and unsanitary conditions for restaurants it praises as ideal progressive businesses.

“It’s past time to lift the veil on ROC, a left-wing union-backed group dedicated to attacking an industry that employs some 14 million Americans,” America Rising Executive Director Brian Rogers told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “This research report shows that ROC has a long record of deception and hypocrisy, violating the high standards it sets for the small businesses it constantly attacks.”

America Rising is a nonprofit research group that promotes conservative policies. The group has been highly critical of ROC for connection to unions and for promoting progressive policies that have the potential to hurt businesses. ROC has promoted the $15 minimum wage and already has its sights on $21 an hour.

ROC Founder Saru Jayaraman routinely attacked restaurants accused of different alleged ethical and workplace violations. Jayaraman says tipped wages exposes women to sexual harassment. She has praised a restaurant owned by a registered sex offender just for its progressive policies, and has utilized a public relations firm run by an alleged sexual harasser.

ROC has launched crusades against restaurants accused of having unsanitary conditions, but Jayaraman has praised restaurants with progressive mindsets while ignoring their health inspection violations. ROC’s own Greenwich Village restaurant, Colors, was found to have critically violated the New York City heath code. The violations list rodents and other issues.

ROC did not respond to a request for comment by TheDCNF.

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