HARTFORD, Conn. — The Labor Committee held a public hearing on a proposal to raise tipped workers’ pay across the state.
Lawmakers are considering an increase in hourly pay on top of tips. The idea has been controversial in the past when it comes to restaurant owners.
Legislators said tipped service workers haven’t seen a pay raise since 2017, but restaurant industry officials say servers don’t want to see a change.
“This is something that’s a long time coming,” said Julie Kushner, Chair of the Labor Committee. “Every other industry in Connecticut has received increases in the minimum wage over the last five years.”
Right now state tipped workers make between $6 and $8 an hour, less than the state’s minimum wage requirement of $15.69, but legally, tips put them over that threshold.
The bill would raise pay incrementally until 2027, until servers and bartenders are up to the state's hourly minimum wage.
Workers spoke out in front of the Labor Committee in a public hearing, with some saying they need more to make ends meet.
“There’s too much economic instability but with the pandemic things got worse, tips went down, harassment went up,” said one worker.
Scott Dolch, the President and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association said with the law now, servers make an average of $33 an hour with bartenders making an average of $35.
“They think this is a solution to a problem but the problem doesn’t exist,” said Dolch.
He said a survey found most restaurant workers don’t want to see any changes to the model.
“The message was clear, 96% are opposed to this legislation,” said Dolch.
Dolch said the proposal would lead to employees earning less money because restaurants can’t afford to pay minimum wage while letting employees keep 100% of their tips.
“It’s going to change the model and deep down it’ll hurt our independent restaurants,” said Dolch.
Another bill under consideration would ban non-compete agreements for workers who make less than three times the minimum wage, which would be $47.07 an hour.
These workers who fall under that pay rate would be allowed to take better-paying jobs elsewhere and not violate the terms of their contracts.
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Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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