As a server in the restaurant industry, I can relate firsthand to the struggles of countless individuals across the country who are barely making ends meet, subsisting on the federal minimum wage of $2.13 per hour for tipped workers. This amount, a pittance to live on, hasn't changed since 1991. The steep dependence on a gratuity-based system to supplement the paltry wage places an undue burden of uncertainty on those in the restaurant industry.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, tipped workers are more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to other workers. Servers are left vulnerable to the fluctuations of business and customer generosity, making their earnings unpredictable. The situation becomes even more precarious during economic downturns and global crises, such as the ongoing pandemic, when dining capacities are reduced yet workers must still make ends meet.

It is time to advocate for a more dignified approach to fair wages in the restaurant industry. Let's push to end the $2.13 minimum wage for tipped servers and adapt a full minimum wage system, which 7 states have already adopted successfully. This will not only ensure that servers make a livable wage but also that their income is stable and not subject to the whims of customer generosity or economic downturns.

Join us in our fight for financial stability and dignity for all tipped workers. Sign this petition and make a stand for fair wages in the restaurant industry.