Restaurant workers, small business owners, and those who claim to be economic justice advocates gathered at the New York State Capitol to release a new report from One Fair Wage and to call on lawmakers to pass legislation ending the state’s subminimum wage for tipped workers.
The groups cited “We Are Drowning”, a report which exposes how stagnant wages, plummeting tips, and the skyrocketing cost of living is pushing nearly 318,000 tipped workers across New York into economic crisis.
The newly released report outlines:
- Tipping rates in New York have fallen to a six-year low, averaging just 19.3%.
- The subminimum wage remains as low as $10.35/hour—only 67% of the full minimum wage.
- Tipped workers earn a median annual income of just $18,625.
- Living costs have surged 23% in the past five years.
- Meanwhile, restaurant employment continues to grow—contradicting industry claims that higher wages would harm business.
State Senator Robert Jackson, who joined advocates from across the state on Wednesday, said of the report’s findings, “Tipped workers are not disposable, invisible, or optional—they are the backbone of an industry and the soul of our service economy. And today, we reckon with a truth that should shake every conscience in this state: thousands of tipped workers are being asked to survive on less than a full wage. The subminimum wage isn’t policy—it’s a scar. A relic of inequality that keeps too many trapped in cycles of poverty. “One Fair Wage is not a burden—it’s a blueprint. A partnership for progress. A win for workers, a win for businesses, and a necessary step toward justice. This bill wasn’t born in a boardroom—it was built in diners, dish pits, and double shifts. Now it’s our duty to rise to the moment and stand with those who’ve always stood for us. Let’s pass One Fair Wage—without delay.”
The One Fair Wage bill (A1200) seeks to end this inequity by ensuring all workers receive a fair wage with tips on top, bringing New York in line with seven other states that have successfully implemented this policy. A full copy of the We Are Drowning Report can be downloaded here.
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