Show me the money
Workers protest plan to replace tips with higher minimum wage
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » Lynette Potter says she’s made a good living as a restaurant server for the past 11 years.
However, she and other wait staff employees say Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to replace tipping with a higher minimum wage would hurt, more than help them.
The workers gathered Monday at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, where state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon was scheduled to address local business leaders. The group wore T-shirts with the message: “Gov. Cuomo Don’t Take Our Tips!” and “We Earned them.”
“I’ve made a good money,” Potter said. “It’s been well above Restaurants workers don’t want the state to raise their minimum wage, which they say would discourage people from leaving tips and reduce their overall earnings. minimum wage.”
Workers say an increased minimum wage will discourage customers from leaving tips, and negatively impact business by forcing restaurants to raise menu prices.
“People aren’t going to come in as much,” Lauren Harrington said. “It’s especially bad for seniors on fixed incomes.”
Also, restaurants won’t be able to hire as many people, so employees will have to do more work for less pay, the group said.
An industry representative said more than 500 upstate New York restaurants have closed in the past year, and questioned why Cuomo is pushing for a change workers don’t want.
“In actuality, it may take money out of the hands of people it’s supposed to help,” Kyle Woods said.
Reardon, suffering from the flu, didn’t attend the gathering and was replaced by Terri Egan, acting state Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner, who outlined the governor’s budget proposals.
“Nothing is cast in stone,” she said.
A series of upcoming hearings gives people a chance to provide input on all proposals before the budget is adopted this spring, Egan said.
Kevin Goggins, an Outback Steakhouse manager, said the restaurant worker minium wage increased two years ago from $5 to $7.50. If approved, Cuomo’s proposal would raise the rate to $10.40 per hour, he said.
“The only one is who stands to gain is the state because they would get more tax from the extra money people earn,” he said.
Workers said some New York restaurants that adopted a no tipping policy soon abandoned it, following negative feedback from employees and customers.