Restaurants oppose wage raises for tipped workers

Samantha Downs has been a bartender more than 17 years, and she's proud of the career the service industry has provided.

She told a legislative committee Monday that contrary to what many opponents to raising the minimum wage for tipped workers say, restaurant workers are not mostly entry-level and low-skilled, but rather highly creative and skilled people.

Downs, testifying on a bill (LB400) heard by the Business and Labor Committee, said it's not the case that tips supplement the subminimum wage well for restaurant workers.

As a front house manager, she clocks in at 6 a.m. and spends an hour setting up the restaurant with no patrons there to tip.

Read more: https://journalstar.com/legislature/restaurants-oppose-wage-raises-for-tipped-workers/article_dcd15d95-f036-5379-8e94-c5cf91d55ec5.html