For over thirty years my mother has worked as a professional server earning $2.13/hour. She has never once received a raise. Benefits have been reduced over time, rather than added. No more extra $1/hour for "Holiday work," no paid sick time, no free shift meal. Also, the servers are asked to take on more non-server work such as bussing tables, seating guests, answering phones, preparing food, vacuuming, attending to the increased carry-out demands... All work that is ineligible for tips, yet is still paid at $2.13/hour. This year, regular Federal Minimum Wage will increase to $11.25, yet servers are again left to bridge their own gap. We have lost so many workers from the service sector throughout the pandemic. This is surely one of the causes. Please consider increasing the Federal Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers.
Why is this important?
Please join me in advocating for raising the Federal Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers. I have watched my mother work her body to exhaustion for over thirty years, never making more than $2.13/hour. She has been afraid of retribution if she advocates for herself. The plight of the average server is often overlooked when we talk about issues with minimum wage even though the tipped worker minimum wage has not increased in 32 years. I am sick and tired of having this vulnerable segment of the working population left out of the conversation. Please join me in championing those without a voice.
