The Federal Government only requires that tipped employees get paid $2.13 an hour. This is an outdated wage and keeps many Americans near or below the poverty line. In 1966 Congress originally set up the TWMW (tipped workers minimum wage). It was set to a fixed percentage of the full minimum wage. Until 1996 when restaurant industry lobbyiest influenced Congress to freeze the TWMW.
The economic security for tipped workers can be restored with these 4 steps:
1. Raise the TWMW.
2. Make the TWMW automatically increase wth regular minimum wage.
3. Increase protection agianst tip stealing.
4. Stop attempts to reduce the TWMW.
In these tough economic times people are tipping less and I believe its time the government took care of its tipped workers the way it takes care of everyone else.