Stand with Missouri's Tipped Employees Today

Submitted by WorkingMissouri on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 9:24am.

Last week, the proponents of Proposition B, along with Jobs with Justice, launched the Save Our Tips campaign. In just the first week, over 1,000 people signed onto the Save Our Tips petition.

Join us today in standing up for Missouri workers across the state by signing onto the petition calling on Governor Blunt to enforce Missouri's new minimum wage law for tipped employees.

Despite the clarity in both the law and the Missouri Department of Labor's regulations, Governor Blunt's administration continues to advise employers they must only pay $2.13/hour to the tipped employees. This begs the question as to whether or not the restaurant industry left a good tip for Governor Blunt? In case you missed it, from the Lake Sun Leader last week:

"It seems to us an industry that rejects a ballot initiative overwhelmingly approved by Missouri voters has been served a nice slice of pie by the Blunt Administration. We hope they left a good tip..."

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Branson is an accurate mirror of the state (not)

Submitted by Hinnus_Asinus on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 2:09pm.
Working for tips in tourist mecca Branson is not exactly like working for tips in Shelbina, Green City, La Plata, or Memphis. Right now tone of the present administration is if you live in the part of the state where the population has declined since 1900, too bad, so sad. Move to Columbia and get a real job and stop whining. About the only tourism we're going to attract here is to sell tickets to see and smell our CAFO's.
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well well well

Submitted by Betty Kowalewich on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 12:56pm.
I see we have a person here who can solve all the problems of under employment or working for minimum wage and trying to raise a family. By golly, I think we have the Wright person to run for governor and the Wright person to solve all the problems the republicans have created by their stopping or underfunding all people's programs. But that is no surprise...republicans always start with eliminating people's programs and giving the business sector the whole store... By jove, I say lets run missouriWRIGHT for governor...and all our problems are over....she/he has all the answers based on her/his life experiences.
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Don't tell me..

Submitted by DavidRust on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 8:24pm.
You can't tell me anything about the "Unemployment Office"  Thats what its always been here and thats all it ever will be.  If you want a $6.50 an hour job, then go there, if you want to clean rooms, then go there, if you want to wait tables and not get the new minimum wage, then go there.  Don't bother to rebut my take on the "Unemployment Office" , we all know about it all too well.  Don't blame the previous administrations with the worthlessness of it now.  Thats the republican way.  Nice you like your employer so well.
DRust
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Training

Submitted by missouriright on Wed, 03/07/2007 - 7:47pm.
Rust, you're right.  If you just go to the office to look for a job and have no training, then the $6.50 job is all you're going to get.  However, if you participate in training, you'll most likely be able to find better employment opportunities.  There are opportunities for people to develop their skills if they take the initiative to utilize them.  The state receives a lot of money from the feds to fund these training programs.
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DRust, you're wrong...

Submitted by missouriright on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 8:38pm.

David, if you keep seeing it as the “unemployment office,” you are the problem.  If you see it, instead, as the employment office, maybe the people that go there will have a chance.  You’re right…if you focus on the low wage jobs, that’s all the people will ever get.  However, if you focus on advancing the skills of those that come into the office, as the administration is trying to do, Missourians who utilize these services will have more opportunities.  Maybe you should look into the Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development’s mission and direction…

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My friend, Missouriwright....

Submitted by DavidRust on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 8:07pm.

I live in the Branson area and have been in the Branson unemployment office. They are just as frustrating as going into a Department of Revenue Office. I remember years ago inquiring about a job with the Mo. Dept of Conservation. I ask them if I should go to the Missouri Job Service Office. The person I talked with said no, we don't want our applications fouled up, we do our own. Nothing is more disgusting than trying to get information or a straight answer from Missouri Division of Employment Security. I'm glad you are complimentary of them, I'm sure not.

Drust

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Been a while?

Submitted by missouriright on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 8:20pm.

Drust,

 

It must have been a while since you’ve gone there, since the Division of Employment Security hasn’t been in control of the Career Centers for a while.  If you haven’t been there since the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, or at least since the new administration has been in office, you really can’t talk about their lack of effectiveness.  The “unemployment office” stigma was a problem, but the economic development of the Branson area has led to capital improvements in the office and the Branson Landing development using the office as a human resource tool.  Don’t use past experiences in the Holden and Carnahan administrations as excuses…it’s a new day.  There are multiple opportunities for people to step up and take their futures’ directions in their own hands.

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Betty, you're mistaken...

Submitted by missouriright on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 6:29pm.

Betty, there is no reason a person should have to live on tips unless they want to (trust me, I worked in a restaurant after high school and made WELL above minimum wage, and this wasn’t a high end restaurant, but more like an Applebees or Ruby Tuesday’s).  The federal government funds employment and training programs in every state, and during this administration Missouri has been on the forefront for addressing the skills gaps in order to move people toward self sufficiency.  A lack of education, and being able to afford it, is not to be blamed on the state, but rather the lack of initiative of those who do not utilize the resources available to them.  I know you’re from the Branson area, so I would suggest that you visit either the Springfield or Branson Missouri Career Centers.  There are experts there that can aid people interested in improving their lives. I'm not suggesting that you need these services, but you can see the efforts of these state and contracted employees in making sure that people get every opportunity they can to ensure prosperity in their lives.  The Workforce Investment Act funds vocational training and education to disadvantaged adults, youths that are in school that are in trouble of dropping out, youths that have already dropped out but want to get a GED and training for a career, as well as workers that have been laid off.  To suggest that the government does nothing to assist those who might not be able to go to college is incorrect. 

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Another compassionate Rapture Kult Goper

Submitted by Betty Kowalewich on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 11:19am.
I wonder how the boy governor would live if he had to work for tips? But he is educated...and has a daddy to help him... and many many good folks never have a chance like that...they cannot afford education past the 12th grade...baby blunt has seen to that... and how many poor people are handicapped and cannot work a full schedule... no baby blunt is not blamed for that... but I do blame the republicans --who are in power here in the state of Missouri... for not helping those who cannot help themselves... Here we have people who are working...trying to make ends meet...and the Blunts, his daddy Roy, also voted against raising the minimum wage....are kicking the workers while they are down... we need to change politicians here in Missouri. Lets vote on a motion---Maybe we need to pay our state taxes under protest ... that no tax monies go to paying the salary of the governor, the house and the senate.... take away their tax paid health insurance and let them live like they have voted others to live...as best as they can without any help from anywhere.... What is good for the public is good for the governement...I would like a show of hands on motion.
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