The Michigan Senate is expected to take up legislation to dial back coming changes to the state’s minimum wage law soon. That’s after the state House approved the changes Thursday.
State Senator Aric Nesbitt tells us it’s about time.
“That will save paid time off for working families across the state and help save 50,000 restaurant and hospitality jobs across the state,” Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt says state lawmakers have heard from hundreds of tipped workers — like restaurant servers and bartenders — who don’t want to lose their tips and be paid the state minimum wage. He says this fix will also prevent changes to sick time rules that would have allowed some workers to get away with no call, no shows.
Nesbitt is expecting the Senate to approve the fix.
“All 18 of my Senate Republican colleagues are ready to vote for this. We just need one Senate Democrat to go ahead and help us save 50,000 restaurant jobs in the state of Michigan and help save paid time off in the state of Michigan, instead of having this one size fits all state government sick leave policy.”
Nesbitt doesn’t know exactly when the legislation will get a vote in the Senate, saying that’s up to the majority leader, a Democrat. He does note that she didn’t bring up minimum wage legislation during the last session, so there are no guarantees for now.
