A Michigan lawmaker is trying to stop the state’s minimum wage increase from taking effect, saying it will destroy the restaurant industry and cause thousands to lose their jobs.
State Senator Thomas Albert has introduced legislation that would keep Michigan’s current laws related to the tipped wage, minimum wage, and paid sick leave.
“Simply put, everybody loses,” Albert said. “The workers lose because they’re going to earn less in income because their tips are going to go down. It’s pretty fair to say almost across the board, wait staff earns well above minimum wage through tips. The customers are going to lose because the prices go up, and employers are going to lose too, because the cost of doing business is going to skyrocket.”
Albert says time is running short to avoid a catastrophe for restaurants.
