Working for Tips

Episode #40

Working for Tips

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April 1st marks the 25th anniversary of the last time Congress raised the tipped minimum wage. Since 1991, the federal wage floor for tipped workers has stayed stuck at just $2.13 an hour. These workers — disproportionately women and people of color — are especially likely to live in poverty, are subject to high rates of wage theft, and experience high rates of sexual harassment in the workplace. In this week’s episode, we dive into the history of the tipped minimum wage, the many ways tipped workers have their rights trampled in the workplace, and the policy solutions that would bring justice to the 4.3 million Americans working for tips.

Follow this week’s guests on Twitter!

  • David Cooper, Economic Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute: @MetaCoop
  • Nikki Lewis, Executive Director of D.C. Jobs with Justice: @TheBlackBenetar
  • Alan Pyke, Deputy Economic Policy Editor, ThinkProgress: @PykeA