Servers Taking Stand Against Governor Cuomo’s Proposal to Eliminate Tips

Governor Cuomo is looking into increasing the minimum wage of servers in New York to $10.40 and eliminating tips. The proposal isn't sitting well with servers around the state and they've banned together to put a stop to it.

Mallory Lorch of Rome has been a waitress for 3 years and says if the Governor's plan passes it would not only affect servers but business owners and customers. "This will cut my income in half and force restaurant owners to increase labor costs and food prices."

Mallory is a member of 'Supports of the Tip Credit in NY' on Facebook. Thousands of servers have joined the group and planned rallies around the state to get the word out. A protest was held in Albany January 3rd with servers wearing shirts saying Governor Cuomo Don't Take Our Tips. We Earned Them. Workers also gathered in Glens Falls where the state Labor Commissioner was addressing local leaders.

"In New York, we believe in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and that all workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Governor Cuomo said. "I have directed the Department of Labor to ensure that no workers are more susceptible to exploitation because they rely on tips to survive."

The tips are what servers rely on says Mallory and raising the minimum wage hurts everyone in the long run. "In the last 3 years, minimum wage for all tipped employees have gone from $5 to $7.50. Raising it again to $10.40 is an over 100% increase. We've already seen prices increase at several restaurants due to higher labor costs."

The change isn't something servers requested and Mallory hopes others will join the Supports of the Tip Credit in NY group. "Why fix a problem that isn't there?"

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