Private equity is overtaking the restaurant industry. With 650,000 workers under their control, private equity firm Roark Capital owns $33 billion in assets — including Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy Johns, and Sonic. They’re intentionally cutting corners and forcing workers into unsafe conditions. The firm bought a controlling stake in the Cheesecake Factory in 2020.

Cheesecake Factory workers say they worked 12-hour days, 6 days a week for the lowest wage possible. The company has prioritized profits over people and left their workers with little to no COVID safety protections.

Meanwhile, Roark Capital bragged about killing the Raise the Wage Act. The act would have guaranteed $15/hour federal minimum wage and ended sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.

Now Cheesecake Factory workers are speaking out.