Minimum wage labor
States are raising their minimum wage up to $15 because it is agreed that no one can support a family on less than that. It has been controversial because certain jobs like fast food restaurants or summer employment for young adults have never meant to be jobs for raising a family. Meanwhile, no one is making a case on the federal government to increase the federal minimum rate.
People complain about the high turnover in restaurants and the reason is because no one can live on what they make. In several occasions I have written about tipping service employees like servers at restaurants, because they earn about $3.25 an hour. Their tips must reach an average of $7.25 per hour for all the hours worked and if they don’t make enough in gratuities, the employer must pay the difference and bring them up to that minimum.
I usually look around when I’m out and feel sorry for servers when they get a large group or a family with children. Believe me, they shiver because those are the worst tippers. I witnessed a group of 12 friends having fun and spending over $300 in their dinner and drinks, leaving a $20 tip when it should have been $60.
The easiest way to figure it out is leaving $2 for every $10 you spent. But there are also those who leave a note saying they don’t believe in tipping so, “If you don’t agree, please see your manager.”
These people do not know how the system works. Take for example the $300 bill that should have earned $60 (or 10% of the total), by the end of the night, the manager gives the employee a receipt for total sales which is what they use when preparing their taxes for Uncle Sam. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) take for granted that they received 10% of the total and they will have to pay taxes on money they never collected. So, it’s costing that employee money to serve you!
The federal minimum wage set forth by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has been $7.25 since 2009 and it remains that way through 2019.
When you go out this Christmas Season dining with your family or coworkers, think of those that are serving you and the families they support, too. Be generous!
Hispanic Week’s Christmas
It took lots of effort, work and yes, money to put together the lighting of the trees in Campagnone Common and bring a little happiness to this city that seemed to be dead. While other cities and towns take pride decorating at least the main roads, there’s no effort made in Lawrence to do the same.
But because no good deed goes unpunished, there’s someone who sees something sinister in good efforts. Some people have given themselves to the task of saying that Hispanic Week’s board could have done better with the $15,000 State Representative Frank Moran allotted to them this year.
First of all, Rep. Moran did not give them $15,000 to light up the Common. He placed it on the budget and it was approved. Now, the State House will be sending some forms for them to fill out and Hispanic Week will receive half of that amount. Before the end of the Fiscal Year, they will send out the balance. There was no money from the State used on the Common!
To those evil doers who don’t bother to check before destroying reputations on Facebook, you owe José Arnaldo Dávila a huge apology.
Lawrence City Councilors
On Tuesday, December 17th, the councilors will meet for the last time this year. I have been writing about subjects that common sense say they should tackle but they pay don’t listen in the hope nobody pays attention to me and soon will be forgotten.
For example, Evan Silverio and Alvaro Perez are serving on the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority illegally because Massachusetts General Laws and the City of Lawrence rules require they live in Lawrence. It’s well-known that Silverio lives in Salem, NH and I have documents to prove it. Perez lives in North Andover. The council won’t even ask them to show their driver’s license as proof of residency, let alone dismiss them from the board.
Another issue is Bus #85 which we paid with taxpayers’ money for 3 busses to run free within the city. Bus #85 shows up every now and then and some days it doesn’t bother at all. After we paid MVRTA $225,000, you would think the city councilors want an answer for the lack of service – or a reimbursement.
And if you believe they will handle it next year, dream on! Next council will be worst still.
