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Union Rep Wants Restaurant Staff Dress Code To Be Policed

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Weighing in on the whole Shark Club staff dress code fiasco in a Vancouver Sun op-ed is union rep Gavin McGarrigle:

The provincial government must undertake a thorough investigation of major restaurant chains to determine if there is systemic discrimination in their hiring and dress-code practices and introduce legislation, regulation, and additional penalties if required to protect the dignity of workers in the restaurant industry.

All qualified British Columbians should be entitled to work in restaurants regardless of their level of subjective personal “beauty,” regardless of their gender, race, or sexual orientation, and regardless of outdated stereotypical and misogynistic male views of what they want to see when they go out to eat.

And just like that – poof! – the casual fine dining industry collapsed.

Dream on, cupcake. It’s long been obvious to everyone above the age of 12 that certain chain restaurants like to hire particular “body types” to toil for a knuckle-dragging customer base that appreciates food as much as a good dick joke. It isn’t going to change, and to enlist the government to further regulate an industry already mired in red tape isn’t all that helpful. If people feel so strongly about it, they can choose not to dine out at restaurants that are transparently misogynistic in their hiring practices and dress codes.

But hey, here’s an idea: what if this same newspaper – The Vancouver Sun – ceased their own objectification of women? Perhaps we’d then make some real progress toward whatever it is that angry Mr. McGarrigle is on about (a lonely Utopia without tits?). To wit, on the Sun’s website right now I see one girl in a bikini, one in nothing but a bra and garter belt, and another being hoisted aloft by David Hasselhoff with her ass hanging out. Indeed, when the Sun isn’t gossiping about the Twilight stars’ whereabouts, Lady Gaga and Ultimate Fighting, it’s a quick descent into a teenage wankfest. Truly, holier-than-thou stories like this are so much sexier without their regular side orders of hypocrisy.

There are 7 comments

  2. Give me a fucking break. There is a certain chain restaurant on Burrard St.( at Dunsmuir) that shall remain nameless, and the only reason I’ve ever been to a chain restaurant like that isn’t the food. It’s the cuties in the short black skirts. Anyone who complains about it (and the tips he/she gets because of it) is in the wrong business. I’ve seen some commercials on TV for computer repair technicians, or para-legals, and medical technicians that looks like the most promising career choice of all time. I’ve heard the teacher to student ratio is very low!!!!

  3. So the CAW and Gavin McGarrigle think that all the issues in these types of establishments will go away if they were unionized…surprise surprise. Anyone else see this as a desperate attempt to increase membership in a time when union membership is quickly decreasing? I would rather hear about the real issues in this claim, rather than a sad attempt to boast about what agreements they have in place. If you believe that unionized workplaces don’t have issues, trust me they do – mainly because unions create a “us against them” culture in order to justify their existence. Since when did Gavin and CAW become experts all of a sudden in these subject matters? Did they speak to the bartender or anyone at Shark Club? Hardly, it’s just easier to spew how wonderful they are w/o getting the facts.

    I have had the pleasure of meeting Gavin and he is just a arrogant as he sounds in his article – a regular know it all!

  4. It’s not just chains. Ever eaten at the Cat’s Meow (now renamed?)

    I was in there one night and all the waitresses were brunettes. It was weird. Must have been a Tuesday thing.

    My wife used to call them modelicious.

  5. me and my friend saw a girl in a short black skirt walking either from or two work and we said she’s eother a hooker or a waitress at earls

  6. I think everyone is missing the point. But I do think the remarks made above really do represent a very common reaction to this story. But here is my point of view:

    Just because something is status quo does not make it ok. In other words, the argument that this type of objectification of women is widespread and well known does not make it acceptable. In fact, if anything, it is truly unfortunate that it is so commonplace.

    Also, to address another point made above, the money made by servers through tips and wages pales in comparison to the money that these business owners are raking in. The fact is businesses are exploiting women as objects for their own profit. To think that these women are some how getting the better end of the stick in the deal is a bit naive. Clearly, the formula of objectifying women at restaurants has worked well, there is no argument there. But it is done at a cost to the women who work at these restaurants, and to women, in general. It is true that some women do enjoy dressing that way anyway but to be given no choice in the matter and to be systematically discriminated against because of it is truly unfortunate.

    And let us not forget why this human rights tribunal exists to begin with. It is a forum for any one to stand up for their human rights, rights that are protected by the the Canadian charter. The charter is designed to protect our rights and maintain equality between people.

    If this type of systematic discrimination occurred at restaurants based on race, people would be up in arms (as they should be), but discrimination based on sex is still socially accepted even in this day and age. I can only imagine how the public would react if only one racial group was chosen and forced to dress in a particular manner in the name of greater profit and the enjoyment of patrons. Very sad.

    In any case, I generally do enjoy this food blog and the restaurant recommendations. I did have to throw my 2 cents in on this topic as it is very near and dear to my heart.

    Thanks to those who read my post and I appreciate any comments.

    Cheers.

  7. Whoever wrote this article is obviously a sexist pig. Women don’t deserve to be treated like sex objects in the workplace. Shame on you for suggesting that this is okay in this day in age.

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