Downriver Today

State Representative Jamie Thompson has voiced her support for service industry workers facing potential challenges due to a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision. The ruling, set to take effect in February, could lead to the elimination of the tipped wage and impose mandates on job providers.

Thompson addressed these concerns at American Coney Island in Detroit on December 19. She highlighted surveys indicating that two-thirds of Michigan restaurant operators might need to lay off staff, 94% would have to increase menu prices, and one in five full-service restaurants could close permanently.

“Instead of listening to our state’s workers – especially bartenders and servers – who have said loud and clear that they’ll be out of work if this goes into effect, Democrats in the Legislature have continued to focus on an extreme agenda that resembles a DNC wish list more than what the people of Michigan actually want,” said Thompson, from Brownstown. “Families Downriver depend on tips they get within these jobs. I raised my kids on the tips I made at my local Coney Island in nursing school. It stuns me that Democrats are pretending this isn’t a problem and won’t pursue solutions when so many livelihoods are at risk.”

Thompson emphasized a bipartisan plan under consideration by the Legislature, House Bills 6056-57. This plan aims to balance economic growth with worker protection by maintaining the tip credit system while gradually increasing minimum wages without forcing businesses to shut down.

“A higher wage and more time off through sick leave doesn’t make a difference if the job set to get those benefits no longer exists,” Thompson stated. “That’s what we’re looking at in a few months. House Republicans are standing ready to negotiate on this so we can protect hardworking people and save our small businesses. Democrats should stand with us instead of turning their backs on our local job providers and their workers.”