Exclusive: Private documents reveal how Big Restaurant lobby monitors fast food protests

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Salon.com

Dawn Sweeney's National Restaurant Association tracks activist's book signings and Wikipedia profile, emails reveal

JOSH EIDELSON

In internal communications obtained by Salon, the National Restaurant Association, the world’s largest food service trade association, warns of growing traction for “rent-a-mob” fast food protests, describes “closely monitoring social media for any plans or signs of activity” and compiles news about an activist antagonist’s book signings and Wikipedia profile.

The three documents, provided to Salon on condition of anonymity, include December and February “Labor Activism Update” memos and a description of the January board meetings of the National Restaurant Association (the so-called “other NRA”) and the NRA Educational Foundation. The meeting notes are introduced with a message from NRA President and CEO Dawn Sweeney pledging “active engagement in responding to reputational attacks on our industry and the organized wage protests that have gained such traction in the last few months.” Toward that end, the January meeting report reveals that the NRA’s Jobs & Careers Committee and its Restaurant PAC both “recommended that the Restaurant Advocacy Fund provide $600,000 in additional support for the ongoing project to combat the tactics of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers, or ROC, and the new industry reputational campaign.”

Reached by email, NRA Communications Director Katie Niebaum acknowledged the set of documents “appears to be some of our member communications.” The NRA claims a staff of more than 750 people and a membership of nearly 500,000 businesses. Its annual policy conference last week was addressed by Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly, and punctuated by the defeat of a motion to advance a vote on the minimum wage. The NRA has for decades helped defeat attempts to raise the current $2.13 minimum for tipped workers, including in the mid-’90s under the leadership of then-CEO Herman Cain.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/05/05/exclusive_private_e_mails_reveal_how_big_restaurant_lobby_monitors_fast_food_protests/

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Dawn Sweeney (Credit: National Restaurant Association)

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. I'm wondering if ...

this "monitoring" and "reportage" is merely a financing "ask" for a "new" NRA product-line?

[Fred Sanders]

2. In a true democracy, unlike in America, businessmen and politicians do not so openly flaunt their

close associations. They still attempt to appeal to the majority of voters.

[mountain grammy]

3. The NRA and the NRA. One wants to shoot you, the other starve you.

[DirkGently]

4. Because people organizing are SUSPICIOUS.

Unlike cabals of businesses and lobbying groups, of course.

[lunasun]

6. +1

[Overseas]

5. K&R. Rare to get the chance to see inside tactics.

[okaawhatever]

7. K & R For restaurant workers everywhere nt

[Ash_F]

8. Support the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United!

http://rocunited.org/

"The mission of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United is to improve wages and working conditions for the nation’s restaurant workforce.
We are 13,000 restaurant workers, 100 high-road employers, thousands of engaged consumers united for raising restaurant industry standards."