Tip penalty
On Feb. 1, a coalition of tipped workers, unions and community organizations defeated by “deferral” an attempt by some restaurant owners, the Hawai‘i Chamber of Commerce and their allies in the Legislature to raise the tip credit on tipped workers with Senate Bill125.
This bill aimed to reduce the minimum wage of tipped workers by 20 percent. The minimum wage presently stands at $12 an hour, and the tipped worker would be penalized $2.40 for an amount that goes straight to the employers’ coffers.
There were 136 testimonies for this hearing, with only six in support of this misguided proposal. Most tipped workers are women with children who often times work at least another job to support their families.
When my wife worked as a waitress, her tips helped pay for my children’s public school lunches and daily activities. The minimum wage is not a living wage, so there is nothing wrong with servers making good tips for their great service.
There is no reason the owners should be rewarded by paying their workers a sub-minimum wage because their workers receive decent tips.
Representative Jeanne Kapela is introducing House Bill 1288 and Sen. Kurt Favella is introducing Senate Bill 270 to eliminate this tip penalty. As of yet no hearings have been set.
Mahalo.
Ray Catania, Kaua‘i representative of Hawai‘i Workers Center
Be responsible
As a long-term resident and homeowner in Princeville, I enjoy the benefits of our beautiful walking path.
I often find myself at the various versions of the Princeville Hotel, enjoying the bluff of Fort Alexander. On my walks I bring a bag to pick up any trash that I encounter on my way, where there is usually very little, as many of us do this.
I am finding now that the construction is winding down on the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, they have removed the fence that was once surrounding the parking lot/construction/staging area, and there is an extreme amount of trash blowing around and out toward the ocean/Hideaways area.
There is a lot of Styrofoam and plastic, much more than I can possibly pick up. It is my hope that someone from the hotel will take the time and do the responsible thing and pick up after themselves.
Thank you very much for your platform!
Annettee Surles, Princeville
Plea for crosswalks
Why are the crosswalks on Kaumuali‘i Highway in Hanapepe being neglected? The paint/strip are faded or don’t exist.
Also, between Omoide and MAC’s, there isn’t a raised/hump crosswalk to slow traffic there.
Please, DOT, fix the problem!
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
