On Monday, February 5th, Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United delivered thousands of
comments opposing a proposed federal Department of Labor rule to make tips the property of employers. Workers and activists are calling for ONE FAIR WAGE in New York State, which would create better wages and better tips. The event took place in New York City at the Department of Labor, 26 Federal Plaza. The proposed federal rule allows restaurant owners to take control of their employees’ hard-earned tips.
The rule is backed by the restaurant industry’s powerful lobby, the National Restaurant Association. For decades, the Other NRA has lobbied to keep wages low and let customer tips make up the difference. Employers would pocket $5.8 billion in worker’s earnings if this rule is implemented.
Restaurant workers and allies delivered comments to Department of Labor offices across the country, including the DOL Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Restaurant workers are calling for One Fair Wage – to eliminate the broken two tiered wage system that allows restaurants to pay their tipped workers as low as the federal subminimum wage of $2.13 per hour.
Comments were collected by ROC in partnership with National Employment Law Center, Economic Policy Institute, Daily Kos, Credo, AFL-CIO, Civic Action, Corporate Responsibility, Good Jobs Nation, Jobs with Justice, Left Action, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, National Women’s Law Center, OurWalmart Alliance, and LaborPress.
