$2.13 an hour

[Amusing Scrotum]

Waiting Tables And Still Waiting for a Raise
by Raj Nayak

Last month, many of our nation’s low-wage workers got their first raise in a decade as the federal minimum wage inched up to $5.85 an hour. But millions more who are paid in part with tips - low-wage workers like waiters and waitresses, car wash attendants, and delivery workers - are still waiting. For them the minimum wage has been frozen at a meager $2.13 an hour for sixteen years. And the restaurant industry - which fights to block pay increases for tipped workers - has lobbied hard to keep it that way. It’s time for Congress to stand up to this special interest and give the nearly three million Americans who work for tips a long overdue raise.

In the past, tipped workers weren’t always excluded from minimum wage hikes. For decades, employers were required to pay them a base wage of at least half the federal minimum wage. This guaranteed a stable income that was automatically adjusted as the minimum wage went up. And it reflected changes in the cost of living and recognized that tips are notoriously unpredictable and can vary substantially depending on work schedules, seasons, and broader economic trends.

But in 1996, when President Bill Clinton shamed House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Congress into raising the minimum wage, Republican lawmakers sided with restaurant industry lobbyists and excluded tipped workers by permanently freezing their minimum wage at $2.13. This resulted in a tipped-worker minimum wage that is worth less and less every year, forcing them to rely almost entirely on tips to make ends meet. Ultimately, it’s meant lower and less certain pay for millions of Americans.

Restaurant industry lobbyists defend their position by focusing on waiters and waitresses at high-end restaurants who earn a lot of money in tips. But such workers are the exception, not the rule. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average waiter or waitress in the U.S. makes just over $17,000 per year including tips - hardly enough to support a family, as many of these women and men struggle to do. And other tipped workers - like car wash attendants and delivery workers - make even less.

As Congress has refused to address this serious problem, thirty-one states ranging from Arkansas to Ohio to North Dakota have stepped in to establish minimum wages above $2.13 an hour for people who work for tips. In fact, seven states require that tipped workers be paid the full minimum wage, recognizing that they are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of gas, rent, and milk. None of these states have found that it hurts business to ask employers to pay tipped workers a fair wage. According to the National Restaurant Association, three of the states with higher minimum wages for tipped employees - Nevada, Arizona, and Florida - are projected to see the fastest growth in restaurant jobs and/or sales over the next ten years.

Congress should follow the states’ lead and restore the tipped-worker minimum wage to its historic level of at least 50% of the federal minimum wage, or $3.63 in 2009. This would give full-time workers an extra $3,120 a year - which would make a real difference in the lives of millions of working Americans.

As a nation, we pride ourselves that people who work hard and play by the rules should earn enough to support themselves and their families. Our shocking $2.13 wage is an affront to this deeply held value and is hurting working families. It’s time for Congress to stand up to the restaurant industry and fix this unfair vestige of the Gingrich era.

Raj Nayak is Counsel with the Economic Justice Project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. The Brennan Center works with federal, state, and local policymakers to promote living wage jobs, workers’ rights, and accountable economic development. The Brennan Center advised in drafting voter ballot initiatives in 2004 and 2006 that raised the minimum wage and tipped worker minimum wage in seven states.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/10/3101/

In the past I've commented that, in my view, the left has completely ignored the plight of workers' in the service industry. Something which, as I see it, is caused both by the nature of the industry itself; and certain, deeply ingrained prejudices about service sector work that are held by people on radical left.

And if ever there was evidence of what this has led to, then the above is that. Basically, based on the information in the article posted above, I think it's fair to say that workers' in the service sector are some of the most exploited workers' in America today. (The same is true in other countries, but to a lesser degree.)

So the question becomes, what is to be done about this? There are several obvious answers, but I don't just want platitudes. Many comrades are quick enough to promote their organisation, so what I'd like to know is what their organisation is doing to address this issue.

Essentially, I don't just want comrades from America to post in this thread and say that they think unionisation, etc., etc., is needed. I want to know if there is any group actually putting their money where their mouth is; and also, if they're not doing anything, I want to know whether comrades would be willing to bring this issue into the spotlight during their next organisational meeting.

Because if all we get is abstract slogans, then tipped workers' will remain on $2.13 an hour.

[PigmerikanMao]

I'm not one to be concerned with the exploitation of the workers in the United States, but rather the exploitations of the third world, being a Maoist and all. To be honest though, this is far less than any workers get in agricultural or industrial labor. If people really want change, they shouldn't ask the bourgeois representatives to go to bat for them but to take protests to the corporations most exploiting the service center themselves. More drastic action could be done as well (letter bombs, attacks, etc) though for the most part, organization against the restaurant industry itself is probably the best way to go.

[Organic Revolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 12:38 pm
I'm not one to be concerned with the exploitation of the workers in the United States, but rather the exploitations of the third world, being a Maoist and all. To be honest though, this is far less than any workers get in agricultural or industrial labor. If people really want change, they shouldn't ask the bourgeois representatives to go to bat for them but to take protests to the corporations most exploiting the service center themselves. More drastic action could be done as well (letter bombs, attacks, etc) though for the most part, organization against the restaurant industry itself is probably the best way to go.
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.


Regarding the service industry, and the wage for delivery drivers and such, I can tell, with personal experience, that it fucking sucks. Even if you work 40 hour weeks, you get checks for like 300 dollars, and who the hell can pay the bills with that. In my shop (ex-shop) we won a higher minimum pay for delivery workers, by organizing and IWW union, and implicating wildcat strikes to get our demands met. In my experience, it is the most effective way to win.

[Wanted Man]

2.13??? Damn labour aristocrats!!!

Anyway, I'm not "AmeriKKKan", but seriously, that's fucked up. No wonder tipping is so commonplace over there, while I do not regularly see it here. I wonder if it would be better if people here tipped more. It might just provide the bosses with an excuse to lower their wages...

[PigmerikanMao]

Originally posted by Organic [email protected] 17, 2007 04:39 am
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.
Well, I'm sorry I've expressed my concerns for the third world through the exploitations of the labour aristocracy in a sentance. Though I'd hardly say that insane pasta of fattening slurs was necessary to prove a point that you don't know me and don't know how I've contributed. In any case, the exploitation of the workers is based on the third world making the revolutionary struggle there far more important than battles for minimum wage in a first world country. Good day to you sir, I'd wish you'd try to make an actual argument , but frankly- you can go fuck yourself.

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 06:38 pm
I'm not one to be concerned with the exploitation of the workers in the United States, but rather the exploitations of the third world, being a Maoist and all. To be honest though, this is far less than any workers get in agricultural or industrial labor. If people really want change, they shouldn't ask the bourgeois representatives to go to bat for them but to take protests to the corporations most exploiting the service center themselves. More drastic action could be done as well (letter bombs, attacks, etc) though for the most part, organization against the restaurant industry itself is probably the best way to go.
a relative of mine did this kinda work in the States and she couldn't afford to get health care. You're so clueless if you think workers in the USA are some kind of parasites, they can barely survive a lot of em.

[PRC-UTE]

anyway, shouldn't allow this thread which is an important issue for millions of workers, to be derailed by a representative of bourgeois anti-worker ideology. I think that overturning the customer service ethos should be a goal of the workers movement since it enforces (or rather attempts to) servility in our class.

what organising tips do experienced comrades have for industries with high turnover rates like the service industry?

[bezdomni]

Yah, waiters in the U.S. live off of tips almost exclusively.

Their paychecks are really pretty meaningless. The highest I've ever seen on one is like $25.

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by PigmerikanMao+August 17, 2007 05:59 am--> (PigmerikanMao @ August 17, 2007 05:59 am)
Organic [email protected] 17, 2007 04:39 am
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.
Well, I'm sorry I've expressed my concerns for the third world through the exploitations of the labour aristocracy in a sentance. Though I'd hardly say that insane pasta of fattening slurs was necessary to prove a point that you don't know me and don't know how I've contributed. In any case, the exploitation of the workers is based on the third world making the revolutionary struggle there far more important than battles for minimum wage in a first world country. Good day to you sir, I'd wish you'd try to make an actual argument , but frankly- you can go fuck yourself. [/b]
Seriously, are you a bit naive? There is a ruling class in every nation, and every single one of those greedy, obscenely wealthy fucks needs to be deposed, not just the ones in Third World countries. Yes, the TW is poor, but poverty 9relative to the country, anyway) still exists in the First World. There are still homeless people, unemployed people and low income families struggling to get by in the First World.

[PigmerikanMao]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17, 2007 08:47 pm
Seriously, are you a bit naive? There is a ruling class in every nation, and every single one of those greedy, obscenely wealthy fucks needs to be deposed, not just the ones in Third World countries. Yes, the TW is poor, but poverty 9relative to the country, anyway) still exists in the First World. There are still homeless people, unemployed people and low income families struggling to get by in the First World.
Granted, though the working class in the US directly benefits from the exploitations of the ruling classes in the "TW." The homeless and unemployed are a minority in the United States while in the "TW" they are a majority. The lower class in the US is relative to a member of the upper class in the "TW." While people in America are complaining about $3 an hour, the people of the "TW" are living off of two dollars a day.

Here's some videos you might consider watching:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cgZ5k2n8k4s
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GQGYpkxKZKI

It's foolish to think American workers are exploited. They are the exploiters when they vote for a representative that oppresses other nations. The people of America who do not act against this imperialism are themselves imperialists, even if they are homeless.

P.S. This video is pretty good too:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zKDkoWdVVM4

[p.m.a.]

As a waiter in a restaurant, there are just as many days where I can work six hours and make maybe 20 dollars as there are days where I can make a decent amount of anything. And the fact that we get paid 2-something an hour means the taxes on our tips come out of our paychecks, and so I never actually get a paycheck.

If Mao doesn't want to fight alongside me and my shitty work conditions, then Fuck him, he's clearly just a bourgeois academic communist. If you idolize the peasantry so much, instead of realizing on just how many levels capital keeps all of us workers imprisoned, then you are no Marxist, but simply mindlessly parroting a dead ideology from half a century ago. So, again, fuck you PigmerikanMao.

[RedCommieBear]

Granted, though the working class in the US directly benefits from the exploitations of the ruling classes in the "TW." The homeless and unemployed are a minority in the United States while in the "TW" they are a majority. The lower class in the US is relative to a member of the upper class in the "TW." While people in America are complaining about $3 an hour, the people of the "TW" are living off of two dollars a day.


While it is true that first world citizens benefit from imperialism, this doesn't mean they are not exploited, if by "exploited", you mean it by the Marxist definition of the word.

Exploitation refers to the extraction of profit/surplus value from the workers. If exploitation doesn't happen, the business simply fails. For capitalism to "work", there needs to be profit.

See Rate of Exploitation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_exploitation)


The rate of exploitation is a concept in Marxian political economy. It usually refers to the ratio of the total amount of unpaid labor done (surplus-value) to the total amount of wages paid (the value of labour power). The rate of exploitation is often also called the rate of surplus-value.

Edit: added link

[marcelina44]

Mao's comments confuse me.

I'm new here.

But i think it's pretty damned stupid to say that American workers ARN't exploited. My grandfather worked in the mills his whole life, my father (an immigrant) now works in usa, i think i know from experienced how fucking exploited people are here.

[capstop]

Lenin did not spend countless unpaid hours in jails and libraries knocking out 36 volumes of revolutionary commentary on the class fight because he was an academic twat who pretended to love everyone. He did it to show (us in this generation) how to organise the biggest fucking robbery in the history of the planet. The ABC and XYZ of how to rip off the capitalists .... and finger the grassing trators (on our side) who will defiantly stab us in the back.

By every nerve and sinew improve conditions and the conditions of our people whoever and wherever they are, but you me and all other workers will only be effective revolutionaries by creating gangs, crews, posses, partys, knitting circles, football teams and militias that will explain events while the capitalist war mayhem is smashing people and their communities all over the place.

Before the full force of the capitalist chaos hits you “individually” or “personally” and before the time when food, energy and other recourses are more ‘important’ to you than thinking about making revolution - understand the importance of understanding itself and read the works of the revolutionary who defiantly lead the first proletarian robbery of the capitalist robbers.

[grove street]

Originally posted by PigmerikanMao+August 17, 2007 04:59 am--> (PigmerikanMao @ August 17, 2007 04:59 am)
Organic [email protected] 17, 2007 04:39 am
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.
Well, I'm sorry I've expressed my concerns for the third world through the exploitations of the labour aristocracy in a sentance. Though I'd hardly say that insane pasta of fattening slurs was necessary to prove a point that you don't know me and don't know how I've contributed. In any case, the exploitation of the workers is based on the third world making the revolutionary struggle there far more important than battles for minimum wage in a first world country. Good day to you sir, I'd wish you'd try to make an actual argument , but frankly- you can go fuck yourself. [/b]
I myself am very pro Mao, but what you need to understand is that Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions that China was facing at the time. Third world workers are the most exploited, but as long as someone is selling their labour time and not receving their full value they are being exploited. You also need to understand that in many first world countries most especially America the ruling class has been successful in destroying class conscinous so most people don't know that they are being exploited and are mostly brainwashed through well developed corporate propaganda to elect reactionary leaders.

Just as Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions of his society, we need to do the same for our society.

[PigmerikanMao]

Originally posted by grove street+August 18, 2007 12:27 am--> (grove street @ August 18, 2007 12:27 am)
Originally posted by [email protected] 17, 2007 04:59 am

Organic [email protected] 17, 2007 04:39 am
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.
Well, I'm sorry I've expressed my concerns for the third world through the exploitations of the labour aristocracy in a sentance. Though I'd hardly say that insane pasta of fattening slurs was necessary to prove a point that you don't know me and don't know how I've contributed. In any case, the exploitation of the workers is based on the third world making the revolutionary struggle there far more important than battles for minimum wage in a first world country. Good day to you sir, I'd wish you'd try to make an actual argument , but frankly- you can go fuck yourself.
I myself am very pro Mao, but what you need to understand is that Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions that China was facing at the time. Third world workers are the most exploited, but as long as someone is selling their labour time and not receving their full value they are being exploited. You also need to understand that in many first world countries most especially America the ruling class has been successful in destroying class conscinous so most people don't know that they are being exploited and are mostly brainwashed through well developed corporate propaganda to elect reactionary leaders.

Just as Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions of his society, we need to do the same for our society. [/b]
I suppose I can't argue with what you're saying, I'm sorry for my previous comments, it was unwise of me to declare American workers as unexploited. I'm sorry.

[grove street]

Originally posted by PigmerikanMao+August 18, 2007 12:47 am--> (PigmerikanMao @ August 18, 2007 12:47 am)
Originally posted by grove [email protected] 18, 2007 12:27 am

Originally posted by [email protected] 17, 2007 04:59 am

Organic [email protected] 17, 2007 04:39 am
Oh fuck off, you sound like an idiot. What makes third world workers more important than service industry workers you fucking idiot, its one world, one struggle, remember? Or do you Maoist ****s no think that a revolution (anti-capitalist) in the first world is important. Get the fuck off of your ivory tower, and if you care so much about the third world worker, get the fuck off the computer, and go to a third world country and organize you pompous fuck.
Well, I'm sorry I've expressed my concerns for the third world through the exploitations of the labour aristocracy in a sentance. Though I'd hardly say that insane pasta of fattening slurs was necessary to prove a point that you don't know me and don't know how I've contributed. In any case, the exploitation of the workers is based on the third world making the revolutionary struggle there far more important than battles for minimum wage in a first world country. Good day to you sir, I'd wish you'd try to make an actual argument , but frankly- you can go fuck yourself.
I myself am very pro Mao, but what you need to understand is that Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions that China was facing at the time. Third world workers are the most exploited, but as long as someone is selling their labour time and not receving their full value they are being exploited. You also need to understand that in many first world countries most especially America the ruling class has been successful in destroying class conscinous so most people don't know that they are being exploited and are mostly brainwashed through well developed corporate propaganda to elect reactionary leaders.

Just as Mao applied Marxism in accordance to the material conditions of his society, we need to do the same for our society.
I suppose I can't argue with what you're saying, I'm sorry for my previous comments, it was unwise of me to declare American workers as unexploited. I'm sorry. [/b]
There is no need to be sorry. What we as Marxists in the first world need to do is rebuild class conscnious within our society and the best way to do this in my opinion, is not only to teach them, how people within their own society are being exploited, but also raise awarness about the plight of workers in the third world. If workers in first world countries were more informed about Capitalist exploitation and the affect it has on their own society and the ten fold affect it has on the third world, I beleive that out of logic and humanity people would be less likely to elect Corporate puppets.

We should aim to build solidarity between first and third world workers.

Workers of the world unite.

[p.m.a.]

Mao, I'd suggest you consider reading a really good analysis of present-day capital, written just a couple years ago. I think it's a defining Marxist work of this century, as early in as we are. Look it up: Multitude, by Negri & Hardt. There's a cool article here (http://auto_sol.tao.ca/node/view/1307).

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Ah, we already had this discussion (as if anyone who has to work for a living even needed to) over whether or not workers in the imperialist countries are "bought off": http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=69157

[Refuse]

i get payed the same wage washing dishes at hooters. my tipshare is usually very large though

[Eleftherios]

Mao, you have to understand that the fate of the workers in the first world countries is bound up with the fate of the workers in the third world countries. You can't say that it is better for a revolution to happen in a thirld world country.

In fact, I'd say that the success of the world revolution is even more dependent upon the success of the revolutions in the industrial world than in the unindustrial world.

[Hiero]

People really need to look at what labor aristocracy theory in todays world means. The USA houses the weathiest workers and bourgeois in the world. That still means there are poor explioted people in the USA, however they are better off then some 3rd world people. I would rather be in the USA being paid $2.13 an hour then in the 3rd world where millions are paid $1 a day.

Look at the chart in this Maoist video to get a better idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgZ5k2n8k4s

From these facts, I think communist for now should really ignore alot of the first world industrial and service workers who obviously fit into the labor aristorcracy profile. Like come on, are you going to be fighting for someone who earns $20/hr or more just because they work? What do they really have to fight for, public funding for their second swiming pool?

The proleteriat in the first world are these service workers, the unskilled labourers, indigenous and the poor in the oppressed nations.

[RNK]

I agree with grove street -- very well said.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 10:04 pm
People really need to look at what labor aristocracy theory in todays world means. The USA houses the weathiest workers and bourgeois in the world. That still means there are poor explioted people in the USA, however they are better off then some 3rd world people. I would rather be in the USA being paid $2.13 an hour then in the 3rd world where millions are paid $1 a day.

Look at the chart in this Maoist video to get a better idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgZ5k2n8k4s

From these facts, I think communist for now should really ignore alot of the first world industrial and service workers who obviously fit into the labor aristorcracy profile. Like come on, are you going to be fighting for someone who earns $20+ or more just because they work? What do they really have to fight for, public funding for their second swiming pool?

The proleteriat in the first world are these service workers, the unskilled labourers, indigenous and the poor in the oppressed nations.
Why de-rail the thread?

We all know that 3rd world workers are more oppressed than '1st world' workers.
That's not what this thread is about, and it's pointless derailment, IMO.

Edit: I just realised this came off more hostile than what was intended.

[Hiero]

Well the originall de-railment was from PigmerikanMao, that lead to discussion about where 1st world workers stand. It is kind of hard to just let something go like that. I tried to bring balance to the two sides that every american is a amerikkkan and the opposite that if you work you must be explioted regardless of your wealth and lifestyle.

This discussion is going to keep coming up on a forum that is meant to be international.

[Bilan]

Well the originall de-railment was from PigmerikanMao

True, I didn't mean it to seem as if I was targeting you out of everyone for no particular reason. Rather, that it seemed finished with, but apparently, it wasn't.


I tried to bring balance to the two sides that every american is a amerikkkan and the opposite that if you work you must be explioted regardless of your wealth and lifestyle.

Fair enough.


This discussion is going to keep coming up on a forum that is meant to be international.

Which is good, but not what the issue I commented on was.
But meh.
I re-read your post, and am not as bothered as I was before by it. I thought you suggested all first world workers fitted into the "labor aristorcracy" category. But I misread. So, apologies.

[Hiero]

No problem.

[Psy]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 12:04 pm
People really need to look at what labor aristocracy theory in todays world means. The USA houses the weathiest workers and bourgeois in the world. That still means there are poor explioted people in the USA, however they are better off then some 3rd world people. I would rather be in the USA being paid $2.13 an hour then in the 3rd world where millions are paid $1 a day.

Look at the chart in this Maoist video to get a better idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgZ5k2n8k4s

From these facts, I think communist for now should really ignore alot of the first world industrial and service workers who obviously fit into the labor aristorcracy profile. Like come on, are you going to be fighting for someone who earns $20/hr or more just because they work? What do they really have to fight for, public funding for their second swiming pool?

The proleteriat in the first world are these service workers, the unskilled labourers, indigenous and the poor in the oppressed nations.
But the proletariat are collectivized in the industrialized world. Just look at Paris May 1968, it shows that the workers are already collectivized in the industrialized nations, all that is missing is the proletriat to become radicalized. Also look at the Russian revolution, the most radical parts of Russia were in the cities not in the more impoverished rural areas.