A proposal to cut wages for certain workers in Albuquerque is stirring up fierce debate in Albuquerque City Council. Some argue it would level the playing field for restaurant workers, while others say, it’s a big step backwards. Councilors are divided over whether employees who receive tips should be allowed to earn a lower base rate, cutting it by more than $4 an hour.
“I did not agree to sponsor this bill to take pay away from workers,” said Councilor Nicole Rogers.
“So if you reduce that down back to where it should be, the same as the state, it would make it more even for us to be able to pay those hard-working dishwashers and cooks more money,” said Robert Vicks, owner, Vick’s Vittles Country Kitchen.
Business owners showed up to the meeting to support their poor dishwashers and cooks.
It blows me away that in many states, they have a Tripped Wage that lets them pay service workers less. It’s so backwards and why we have this whole tipping BS.
For example, in Pennsylvanian Employers must pay tipped employees at least $2.83 an hour.
“This amendment would strike the city’s minimum wage and adopt the state’s New Mexico minimum wage,” said Councilor Renee Grout.
During the meeting, Councilors Brook Bassan and Renee Grout proposed amendments, that would lower the minimum wage for people who receive tips, such as restaurant servers, from $7.20 an hour to $3. That’s currently what the state requires.
So Councilors Bassan and Grout took an unrelated ordinance, added a horrific 54% wage cut for a specific type of worker, and then refused to defend their actions. Sounds like a couple Councilors need to be investigated for unscrupulous activities.
