State Representative Joey Andrews says the compromise reached in the Michigan Senate on the tipped wage isn’t perfect, but it’s better than previous proposals.
The Senate Thursday announced a deal to prevent a looming change that essentially would have caused tipped workers in Michigan to gradually be switched to the full minimum wage by 2030 and starting February 21. Restaurants across the state warned it would put them out of business.
Andrews tells us the Senate deal came after protracted negotiations in both the House and the Senate. He calls it a decent compromise.
“We weren’t happy with what came out of the House,” Andrews said. “Those bills didn’t represent anything that had been discussed last fall and those House bills were more of a making a political statement than actually an attempt to solve the problem. The Senate bills, to me, actually are much closer to the compromise that’s been discussed.”
Andrews says under the deal, the minimum wage will be raised to $15 an hour by 2027, and instead of eliminating the tipped wage, the compromise raises it to 38% of the minimum wage on February 21, and then to 50% in 2031. While Andrews supports a higher minimum wage, he tells us he’s met with restaurants throughout the 38th District, and it’s clear the workers don’t want to lose their tips.
Meanwhile, state Senator Aric Nesbitt also says the compromise isn’t perfect, but will do. He addressed it on the Senate floor Thursday.
“We can’t make the perfect the enemy of the good,” Nesbitt said. “This is a first step in finding a solution to save the businesses that make Michigan great, to look forward to finding a resolution to allow Michigan businesses to continue providing reasonable and responsible and flexible paid time for hardworking families.”
In a statement, Nesbitt said, ”
“This bipartisan compromise is a successful first step in finding a solution to save the businesses that make Michigan great. I also look forward to working toward a resolution that will allow our businesses to continue providing reasonable, responsible and flexible paid leave time for hardworking families.”
The state Senate approved the deal on a 20 to 12 vote Thursday night. It should now head to the House, once a deal has been reached on paid sick time.
