KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Up to 20% of restaurants and bars in Michigan say they will close permanently if the state Supreme Court’s ruling increasing the minimum wage for servers and bartenders takes effect in February 2025.
John Sellek, the spokesman for Save MI Tips, says they are urging lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties to take action during the lame duck session after the November election to fix that part of the minimum wage law.
He adds the issue is not the fault of the current Legislature.
The higher minimum wage is coming from a ballot petition that the Legislature adopted in 2018, preventing it from going before voters, and then amended it in lame duck to lower the minimum wage, spread out the timeline for raising that, and keep tipped wages in place.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that was unconstitutional, saying minimum wages would rise to $10.56 January 1 and $12.48 on February 21. The tipped minimum wage would rise to 60% of minimum in February, going to $5.99 an hour and every year would be 10% closer to minimum until 2030, when it rises to the same as the minimum wage.
Sellek joined WKZO Mornings with Ken Lanphear to make his comments ahead of a meeting today at Western Michigan University that will include area lawmakers from both parties.
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