Protesters rallied outside of Trump Tower on 5 Avenue on Monday, demonstrating a significant rebuke to the president's policies not just in his hometown, but on his doorstep. The "#WorkersOverBillionaires Labor Day" saw leaders from a number of organizations denouncing the president's policies on a number of fronts, with some dressed in chicken or taco costumes referencing the "TACO" nickname (an acronym for "Trump always chickens out") given to Trump for his erratic trade policies, having frequently announced steep tariffs and then delayed or diminished them. The event even included a free lunch, with actual tacos handed out to participants as part of the protest action.

One of the organizations responsible for the rally is One Fair Wage, a national organization fighting against laws that allow for service industry workers to be paid less than the minimum wage, calling instead for a universal minimum wage. Saru Jayaraman, a co-founder of One Fair Wage, was sharply critical of the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to social programs and tariff policies that are raising prices, but also noted the lack of support from the party that is supposed to back the working class.

"Last year, we asked the campaign, the Democrats, 'please, talk about raising wages, please talk about ending the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.' They didn't do it," she told the hundreds of protesters on the 5 Avenue sidewalk, standing on a chair. "And then an orange man came along and said 'no tax on tips.' [...] And our members said, 'well, we know he's pandering, we know it's not the right solution, but at least he thinks we're important enough to pander to.' And so, we asked the other side, 'please pander, please talk about raising wages,' and they did not." Jayaraman would go on to argue that the economic pressure on working people ultimately undermines their vision of democracy as a system worth saving. "If we want people, working people, to join us in the fight to save democracy, we need to deliver for them."

Throughout the rally, a channel was carved through the sidewalk in order to enable pedestrians to pass through, which in this area and at this time of year were mostly tourists. An Italian group of tourists and their guide who were observing the protest told La Voce they were surprised to learn about New York's sub-minimum wage for service workers. "Having understood what they're saying, what they're protesting for, I think we can all agree that they have our support," said Thomas, the group's tour operator. "I always tell everyone when we go out, 'remember to leave a tip,' and we find the custom so frustrating, but now we better understand having to make up for the lower wage."

Another speaker's story highlighted how tipping culture has an even more sinister side to it than lower base pay. Jacqueline, an activist with One Fair Wage who used to work in a high-end hotel restaurant, explained how the tipping culture put her safety and self-respect in the balance, as patrons regularly "slipped [her] notes with their hotel room numbers along with their tips, implying that's where [she] should really earn their money." She brought her concerns to management, who encouraged her instead to play along. "My dignity, my safety, and my boundaries as a young woman didn't matter, only the tips did."

Jayaraman's and Jacqueline's arguments were further supported by Dr. Steve Auerbach, a pediatrician and one of the leading members of Physicians for a National Health Program's New York Metro chapter. Dr. Auerbach spoke about the "social, economic, corporate determinants of health," which are as varied as one's ability to pay for food and rent or the physical and mental stresses of unfair working conditions, as well as one's ability to even afford a visit to the doctor. He called on his fellow physicians to advocate for economic policies that address these factors, and to do so "not just in the halls of academia, but in the frontlines in this fight."

Dr. Auerbach highlighted universal-minimum-wage bills currently in committee in New York State's legislature (bills A1200 and S415), and called on Governor Kathy Hochul to support their passage into law