The tipped minimum wage seems to be the only topic on the menu when it comes discussing Denver’s dining scene right now. As new claims, data, testimony, and allegations surface, the highly divisive “Restaurant Relief Bill” has hit a roadblock on its way through the state legislature.
Where the Bill Currently Stands
The proposal — which would lower the tipped minimum wage for servers and bartenders in Denver — stalled out in a House Finance Committee hearing. Two weeks prior, it cleared its first vote in the Business Affairs and Labor committee with only two representatives voting against it. But members of the Finance Committee considering the bill earlier this week weren’t so sure. Following five hours of heated testimony, the measure’s sponsors delayed a vote to allow for further discussion.
Some Wild Claims
Many supporters have said that Denver’s bartenders and servers already earn well above the minimum wage and would be modestly impacted by the cut to tipped minimum wages. But most tipped workers are saying that’s nonsense. City Auditor Tim O’Brien also refutes that argument, pointing to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that says the average Metro Denver bartender or server only makes about $39,000 annually.
Mayor Mike Johnston, on the other hand, has publicly backed the bill. During a recent interview with City Cast Denver, the mayor told us he’s spoken with local restaurateurs who claim their servers are reaping six figures in annual earnings. Could that number possibly be true? At least one Denver server says yes.
A Shocking Testimony
Though many restaurant owners and employees who support the bill say they’re afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation, harassment, and online bullying, that didn’t stop one local server who testified at Monday’s committee hearing. This person said he works at the upscale Denver steakhouse Guard and Grace and that he not only supports the bill, but can confirm Mayor Johnston’s claims.
“I am one of those random servers that somehow made six figures this year comfortably,” he began his testimony. “I did so because I am a hospitality professional. I've worked in New York and Chicago. I have [taken care] of guests such as LeBron James, Alex Rodriguez, Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase.
“And at this point, I see a restaurant scene in Denver that is completely underdeveloped, that is providing service that is well below their expectations. And they simply move on to [Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge] where they can receive the type of service that they receive.
“I believe that lowering the tip credit … will help develop a vibrant restaurant community that, in the long run, will create jobs for people [and] a restaurant industry that allows everyone to thrive.”
So What’s Next?
The fight continues. The Finance Committee will likely revisit the bill next week. Should it pass, the measure will move on to face the full House. We want to know: What do you think?
Dig Deeper
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