include a tip credit in the Minimum Wage Ordinance, which they are likely to
vote into law.
The person interviewed brought up Maine's recent move to amend their law to
include a tip credit.
"Webster Norton says the idea of suing came from a similar server group in
Maine, where pro-tip credit workers had considered suing after a statewide vote
passed in November. (The Maine outfit backed off that plan when lawmakers
hastily took up revisions to restore the tip credit.) "
"They were ready with a lawsuit, and their lawsuit is based on wage losses,"
says Webster Norton, who says her Minneapolis-based group would look to sue
under similar grounds, claiming "projected wage losses."
Unlike Mpls, which did not do a voter referendum....it was Maine voters who
went for increased minimum wage, with no tip credit.
If there is a law suit, it would allow for much more debate, visibility and
much more attention to the nuances of this issue.
Having organized around homelessness over the years, I know often that
organizing sometimes relies on short, generalized sound bites. AND staying
focused on those sound bites and slogans can come out of the well justified
concerns that politicians will coopt and water down so much that real change is
not achieved.
I am guessing Fight for $15, one wage for all demand arises from that concern.
Maybe not, just a guess.
What I have observed is the ( to me) intriguing assumption that those who say
it is more complicated than one size fits all are accused of a variety of very
, very bad things.
Among those things: racist, greedy, classist, lack of concern for poor people,
morally flawed.
What I have seen is that those asking for the tip credit, have voiced support
for the minimum wage, and validate the need for a living wage. But they are
also articulating ways to allow for a less rigid ordinance.