PROVIDENCE – Two state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would raise Rhode Island’s “subminimum wage” for tipped workers for the first time in nearly two decades and bring it in line with the Rhode Island minimum wage.
Sponsored by Rep. Aaron Regunberg and Sen. Gayle Goldin, the bills would gradually raise the state’s tipped wage from its current rate of $2.89 per hour until it is in line with Rhode Island’s regular minimum wage by the year 2020. While the base rate of hourly pay would increase, servers would still receive tips.
According to a news release, the bills were introduced with 42 co-sponsors in the House and 21 in the Senate
According to the release, studies show that the restaurant industry is “thriving” in states without a lower minimum wage for tipped workers. The seven states without a subminimum wage have higher average restaurant sales per capita and higher average employment growth for tipped workers than states with subminimum wages, with menu prices similar to those in subminimum wage states.
