Voters in Arizona and Massachusetts are set to decide whether employers should be able to continue to pay tipped workers such as servers and bartenders a lower minimum wage than non-tipped workers.

Mel Nichols, a 37-year-old bartender in Phoenix, Arizona, takes home anywhere from $30 to $50 an hour with tips included. But the uncertainty of how much she’s going to make on a daily basis is a constant source of stress.

“For every good day, there’s three bad days,” said Nichols, who has been in the service industry since she was a teenager. “You have no security when it comes to knowing how much you’re going to make.”

The amount tipped workers make varies by state. Fourteen states pay the federal minimum, or just above $2 an hour for tipped workers and $7 an hour for non-tipped workers.

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
    631·
    1 month ago

    This is the bullshit propaganda restaurant owners spread, and unfortunately a lot of tipped workers buy it.

    If you’re making $30-50 an hour, why would you stay at the job if they offered you $20? Your job is a skill, and the better you are, the more it is worth to your employer. Employees will go where their skills are appropriately compensated. Setting the minimum ensures that all workers can support themselves, and that will force all wages higher.

    • iopq@lemmy.world
      18·
      1 month ago

      So labor is worth market value in the labor market?

      I agree, then there’s no need to change minimum wages for tipped employees

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
        10·
        1 month ago

        No, because labor rates are an unbalanced equation. Without a regulated minimum, employers will take advantage of the excess of laborers. The inherent threat of the violence of poverty will always create more supply than demand, because there is always someone willing to work for less.

        But if your employer already values your skills at a certain rate, there’s no reason to accept a pay cut for the same work. If you’re great at your job, you’ll likely still earn tips, but without the risk of going unpayed for your labor.

        • iopq@lemmy.world
          15·
          1 month ago

          That only applies during high unemployment, right now there isn’t even 4%, really nobody to exploit. Fast food places in California are paying $20/hr starting, much higher than the local $15/hr minimum wage in the cities

          • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
            5·
            1 month ago

            That $20/hr was legislated by the state not the “market rate” like you’re trying to argue. It’s kind of hilarious that you used that example considering it completely supports the other side of your argument.

            • iopq@lemmy.world
              12·
              1 month ago

              If there’s a big crash and everyone loses their jobs it’s better that a few more people have jobs that pay under a living wage.

              It’s easier for the government to give a little bit assistance to someone who is underpaid than to pay all of their bills