Hundreds of servers protest at the Capitol after tipping law passes

LANSING, Mich (WLNS) — Many servers and bartenders across Michigan protested at the Capitol Wednesday to speak with lawmakers about their tips being taken away. In July, the state of Michigan passed a law to take away the tip credits from servers and bartenders and replace it with higher minimum wage pay.

Many servers say this change could potentially ruin their livelihoods, including Tiffany Greco, a bartender and server at Sedona Tap House in Novi, who says the law could change the tipping culture in restaurants.

“So, them taking it away is going to hurt a lot of families,” said Greco.  “A lot of people that make more than minimum wage won’t make that after.”

Josh Dickinson, a bartender at Applebees in White Lake, says he wouldn’t be able to afford extra living expenses.

“If they took that away from me,” Dickinson said. “It would be very hard to support my style of living.”

Greco says she’s not taking anything less than her tips.

“Personally, I make a lot more than minimum wage, and honestly I don’t think minimum wage is a real living wage anyway,” said Greco.

The current minimum wage in Michigan is $10.33, but servers make $3.84 plus tips. Next year the minimum wage will be raised to $12.

Employers will have to pay their employees the minimum wage amount by next year, and many waiters say they will no longer be able to rely on tips.

Dickinson says that scares him due to the current tipping culture today in America.

“I think that it will justify it for people not to be able to tip and I think it’ll affect everybody significantly,” said Dickinson.

Greco says that the higher minimum wage wouldn’t only hurt the employees, but the customers as well.

“Restaurants are gonna have to pass that cost onto the customer somehow, either in high food prices or some type of service charge or something like that,” said Greco.

Many servers do not get paid time off or get overtime. The new law will not ban tipping, but many severs believe a big increase in hourly wages will encourage customers to cut back or even avoid tipping altogether.

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