To Kosher Restaurant owners from the students of Barnard College, Columbia University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America: The “Tav HaYosher” is an ethical seal given to kosher restaurants that meet the legal standards of workers' rights as mandated by New York State. The three conditions we examine when assessing whether or not to award the restaurant our Tav are (1) fair pay, (2) fair time, (3) a safe work environment. These criteria include: safety equipment when necessary, no sexual harassment, no withholding of wages, paying the legally-mandated minimum wage, a fair work schedule, and other worker's standards already enshrined in New York State law. Treating workers fairly is not only ethical, but also in the best economic interests of a restaurant. To that end, we seek to ensure not only that kosher restaurants treat their staff appropriately. We also will encourage the kosher-eating community to mobilize and use their power as consumers to support those restaurants who are awarded the Tav and thus abide by legal worker treatment standards. We the undersigned, members of the Barnard, Columbia, and JTS communities, have signed this petition to encourage you to treat their workers as New York State mandates, and also, for our part, to pledge that we will encourage support of your business if you will abide by the standards of the Tav. In an industry with great potential for, and actualized, worker abuse, we believe it is imperative for Jewish restaurant owners and management to treat their employees with dignity, respect, and in accordance with both American law and halacha. We support the Tav HaYosher (Ethical Seal) and will seek to support businesses that carry it. We hope you will do the same. Sincerely, The Columbia/Barnard/JTS Tav HaYosher Working Group

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