Action Center :
Raise the Tipped Minimum Wage
Congress hasn't passed an increase to the tipped minimum wage in 21 years.
In 1991, a loaf of bread cost 70 cents, the average salary was $29,000, and the minimum wage for tipped employees was $2.13.
21 years later, bread costs $2.89, and American workers are taking home $40,000.
But the minimum wage for tipped employees is still $2.13.
Food service workers have 3 times the poverty rate of the rest of the US workforce. Raising the minimum wage for the benefit of 29 million low-wage workers would only increase food costs by, at most, 10 cents a day for consumers. The Miller-Harkin Fair Minimum Wage Act which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10/hour over the next 3 years and the tipped minimum wage from $2.13 to 70% of the regular minimum wage.
Please urge Congress to support the Miller-Harkin Fair Minimum Wage Act. Sign the petition.
FAQs about $2.13
When I go out to eat, I always tip well. Why should I be worried about how much my server makes per hour?
It's great that you tip well, but not everyone does. In fact, some people don't tip at all. While it's true that sometimes servers do make pretty good
money, it's also true that they often have bad nights, or even bad weeks. Waiters and waitresses have three times the poverty rate of the rest of the US
workforce, and more than half of them live below the federal poverty level for a family of three.
Don't restaurants have to compensate servers when their tips don't add up to minimum wage?
They're supposed to, but not all of them do.
Can restaurants afford to pay servers more than $2.13/hr?
Yes. The restaurant industry is slated to take in $632 billion in 2012, which is 3.5% more than they grossed in 2011.
Hasn't the minimum wage been raised recently?
Not for tipped employees. Restaurant servers make $2.13/hr in 2012, and that rate hasn't changed since 1991. For non-tipped employees, the minimum wage has been raised multiple times since then (from $4.25/hr in 1991 to $7.25/hr in 2009.)
That doesn't seem fair. Shouldn't somebody do something about that?
It's funny you should mention that, because we sure think so! There are currently bills in both houses of Congress that would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees (if they were to pass.) So far, no luck.
I want to help! What can I do?
We'd love to have your help. Here are couple of ways you can take action:
1. Send a letter to your member of congress.
2. Start a ROC STAR in your city. ROC STARs are local committees of restaurant workers in areas where there aren't yet official ROC affiliates. ROC STARs focus primarily on consumer education and policy advocacy. Email us to find out more.
Want us to let you know when something changes? Sign up to get "$2.13 Updates" from ROCUnited.org.
Join the fight against income inequality by making a donation to the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United.
Ready to take the leap and join ROC-U? We have memberships for restaurant workers, restaurant owners, and consumers.
Go!