All US Tipped Employees (Bartenders, Servers etc) Important Legal News!

[workersadvocate]

The Supreme Court [USA] will allow bartenders and servers who make part of their money from tips file lawsuits for more money when they do work that doesn't involve tips.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-01-17/tips-lawsuit-applebees/52611554/1

[thriller]

Interesting. Maybe in 100 years I can file a lawsuit against employers who profit off of my labor :P

[workersadvocate]

Interesting. Maybe in 100 years I can file a lawsuit against employers who profit off of my labor :P

I don't know how this came about, except from a legal suit of thousands of Applebee's current and former employees. The situation is that US restaurants have been paying tipped employees less then minimum wage because they get tips, but then make them do extra work before or after their tipped work is finished and still pay them 2-3dollars an hour! It happens at my workplace too. Servers have to spend an extra hour or so rolling silverware, cleaning up their assigned sections in the dining room, and cleaning/stocking the kitchen area.....for $2.13/ hr!!! They don't have any more customers to serve during this extra time, thus their is no possibly of tips during this time, yet they sre still paid less then minimum wage.
It's a solid case of superexploitation going on throughout the industry, but where are the unions?
I don't have illusions in the lawsuit, but damn if this isn't a clear opportunity to argue a strong case for the need to organize and wage a workers' struggle all restaurant employees! Think about linking that industrial union organizing with the independent Occupy movement, other workers' organizing drives, and the need for work place occupations.

[Aspiring Humanist]

When i was 16, i worked as a dishwasher for a local restaurant. maybe the owner listed me as a waiter or something, but all i did was wash dishes and occasionally bus tables if it was short staffed that night. I was paid below minimum wage and I wasn't included in the tip sharing. back then i could care less about workers rights and everything and the owner was a family friend so I regrettably never brought it up or tried to get a higher wage
this is good news from someone whos been fucked by a restaurant owner

[Arlekino]

I work in England as Waitress and I don't get tips never ever at all I work in this place for 10 years. Same wages 10 years ago and same wages now.

[Nox]

When i was 16, i worked as a dishwasher for a local restaurant. maybe the owner listed me as a waiter or something, but all i did was wash dishes and occasionally bus tables if it was short staffed that night. I was paid below minimum wage and I wasn't included in the tip sharing. back then i could care less about workers rights and everything and the owner was a family friend so I regrettably never brought it up or tried to get a higher wage
this is good news from someone whos been fucked by a restaurant owner

Wow... That seriously sucks

[MegaBrah]

Only tips I get at work is to hurry the fuck up:(