LANSING, Mich. — One of the biggest fears from some of the tip workers 13 ON YOUR SIDE talked to Wednesday morning is if minimum wage increases for them, then the amount of tips they'll receive will decrease because of rising costs.
That's why hundreds of them came out to the State Capitol, some skipping work to make their voices heard.
"I work for my tips, I do what I can," said Jordynn Robinson speaking from the podium.
Right now, base pay for tipped workers is 38% of Michigan's minimum wage, or $3.93 an hour with tips making up the rest.
"If we wanted a better wage, we would go out and totally get a different career," said Lu Haoyz, co-owner of Peppermill Cafe in Standale. "But we work hard for what we do and we deserve to be tipped."
However, a recent ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court will raise the state's minimum wage to $12 an hour and will do away with the state's tip credit by 2029, meaning the rule that minimum wage can make up 38% of general minimum wage will be thrown out. They'll eventually be making $15 an hour by 2029.
Republican State Senator Thomas Albert, from Lowell, introduced a bill last week to combat that ruling. The bill would continue to raise Michigan's minimum wage, but keep the 38 percent tip credit.
"If we let this new law go into effect next February, you're going to see changes." said Sen. Albert. "I mean, especially at the restaurants, you're going to see cost of the food's going to go up."
"I've been a nurse, I've been a lab tech," said Michele King who works at Real Food Cafe in Grand Rapids. "I mean, I've been all over. I just come back because number one is, it's great money. And number two, I get to be with my kids at the end of the day."
As it stands right now, that minimum wage hike for tipped workers will take effect in February.