City councilors debate over minimum wage for tipped workers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –  City leaders are clashing over the future of minimum wage in Albuquerque, specifically for workers who receive tips. A proposal raised at the last Albuquerque City Council meeting has stirred up fierce debate.

“The idea that we would ever go backwards, is just not okay. We should be ashamed to be having that conversation,” said Tammy Fiebelkorn, City Council member.

“This isn’t about profit over people, this is about business staying open [and] employing their staff,” said Brook Bassan.

The issue raised tensions at city hall Thursday, where two councilors claim they were left out of the conversation. “I was very offended that we were not allowed to be included in that meeting,” said Bassan.

Something the mayor disputed. “We’re always happy to chat. We didn’t know they wanted to do anything actually,” said Mayor Tim Keller.

It started last week when councilor Nichole Rogers introduced a bill raising the city minimum wage from $8.50 to $12 an hour, which Albuquerque workers already receive under state law. Her proposal would also strengthen enforcement in cases of wage theft.

But some council members, with support from the New Mexico restaurant association, also wanted to change the rate for tipped workers lowering their minimum wage from $7.20 to the state rate of $3 an hour.

Rogers says that goes against her intent. “We know it’s not okay to take pay away from workers period and that’s what this is about. The only reason I asked for withdrawal was because that amendment came to take away pay from hard-working people and I’m not okay ever with doing that,” said Rogers.

In a news conference, the mayor came out in support of the original bill, saying it will also ensure wages go up automatically to match inflation. “It should not be up to politicians to set wage rates let’s just base them on cost of living that’s what Albuquerque had always done,” said Keller.

Those rising costs are something both groups agree on. “Everybody’s rent is going up, everybody’s mortgage is going up, the gas pump is a larger bill,” said Ashley Long, President of the New Mexico Federation of Labor.

“Increased costs of living and rent and food and gas still apply to business owners as well,” said Bassan. Councilors Bassan and Grout argue that the change is worth a conversation, and they want to see the original bill withdrawn in the meantime.

“Making sure that we pay people properly on all sides of a restaurant while also making sure the business owner is able to keep their business doors open,” she said.

“There’s no rush to get this passed. I think we should step back and everybody should come to the table share their concerns and see what we can do,” said Renee Grout, Albuquerque City Council member.

Bassan and Grout say they would also be open to a compromise with a smaller decrease in wages. The issue is expected to be back on the agenda at Monday’s council meeting.

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