Murray: President Trump’s Promises to Workers “Ring Hollow,” as Administration Rolls Back Protections for Tipped Workers

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s announcement it is considering rescinding an Obama Administration rule that restricted employers from stealing workers’ tips in certain circumstances. In August, Senator Murray introduced The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act to give workers the right to receive full compensation for the work they perform, and to crack down on employers who unfairly withhold wages from employees.

“For the millions of working families who believed President Trump would build an economy that works for them, those campaign promises now ring hollow. Workers in the restaurant industries—the majority of whom are women—rely on hard-earned tips to pay their bills and make ends meet, so I’m disappointed the Trump Administration is once again rolling back protections and allowing employers to steal money from their employees. If President Trump truly wanted to help more working families become financially secure, he would abandon these efforts and start promoting policies that will help working families save more money in the bank—including raising the minimum wage, updating overtime protections, and of course, allowing workers to keep the tips they’ve earned through their hard work.”

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