Servers at Lobby Day: (Top L to R)Louie Reinoso, Liz Zerr, Joe Thomas, JJ Loy, Stacey Amico, Courtney Jackson, Annie Shields, Mike McLaughlin (Bottom L to R) Megan Dougherty, Shannon Barrett, Joe Wicks, Dana Dreher, Ashli Bolden.

The waiters and waitresses in Missouri will NOT have to deal with a paycut during this economic crisis.  Despite the best efforts of some Missouri legislators, the waiters and waitresses in Missouri united with their allies through Jobs with Justice and defeated Rep. Tim Jones’ (R-Eureka) bill to weaken the minimum wage for tipped employees.

In 2006, 76.4% of Missouri voters passed Proposition B which increased the wage for tipped employees. The ballot initiative passed in every single Missouri county by 16 points or more. Since then, business interests and their allies in the legislators have tried to chip away at the minimum wage continually.

During the last  4 months of the legislative session you sent thousands of emails, made calls, and lobbied your legislators and they heard you loud and clear. Thanks to tremendous pressure the bill died in the Senate as the legislative session came to a close on May 15.

THEY’LL BE BACK AND WE’LL BE READY!
The restaurant industry and its lobbyists were clear that they are not done trying to pick the pockets of their waiters and waitresses.  We expect to see another bill to undermine the tipped employee minimum wage next session so JwJ and its leaders will continue to strengthen our network of waiters, waitresses and supporters of working people throughout the state to protect FAIR WAGES FOR SERVERS.

Go HERE to learn more about leaders that gave key support to this campaign.

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