Federal minimum wage increase leaves out servers and bartenders

Despite the recent increase in the federal minimum wage for many workers, the minimum wage for servers and bartenders will remain at $2.13 per hour, the same level it has been for the last 18 years. Labor advocates rallied fiercely to increase the wage for tipped workers, citing the problem of management stealing tips from employees, but it was to no avail. NY Hotel Trades Council servers and bartenders do not have to worry, however, because under the Industry-Wide Agreement servers currently earn more than $16 an hour and bartenders currently earn more than $24 an hour in addition to their tips.

Greenhouse, Steven. Tipped workers left out as minimum wage rises. NY Times, July 23, 2009.

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