02.06.18

More than 120 Democrats Urge Department of Labor to Withdraw Harmful Proposed Tip Rule

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member on the Education and the Workforce Committee, Senator Patty Murry (D-WA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and 122 Democrats submitted a public comment to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to withdraw its proposed change to the tip rules. DOL is considering changing existing rules to allow employers to pocket tips of workers, which could result in the loss of billions of dollars of tips for workers.  

“By proposing a rule that would allow employers pocket their workers’ tips, the Department is circumventing the will of Congress, overturning their own precedent of more than 40 years, and undermining other existing wage protections for workers,” said Ranking Member Scott. “Moreover, recent revelations that the DOL may have withheld estimates that the rule would cost workers billions of dollars only makes the DOL’s efforts all the more troubling.  If DOL decides to push through this rule and ignore its costs to workers or the public’s concerns, there will be a real erosion of trust in the DOL’s commitment to protecting workers.” 

“Women make up two-thirds of tipped workers, and they rely on tips to support themselves and their families—so it is despicable the Trump Administration is considering allowing employers to pocket workers’ tips for themselves,” said Senator Murray. “Even the Department of Labor knows how deeply harmful this rule would be; they tried to cover up evidence showing their proposed change would result in billions of dollars of lost tips for working families. Now that we know how far the Trump Administration is willing to go to put businesses before workers, it is clear they must withdraw this proposed rule change.”

The Members submitted their comment in response to the DOL’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Last week, news reports revealed that DOL allegedly withheld estimates that show the proposed rule change would result in billions of dollars of lost tips for workers. In their comment, Members also raise issues with DOL’s failure to provide analysis  of the impact on workers.

To read the letter, click here. 

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Press Contact

Stephanie Lalle: 202-226-0853 (Scott)

Mairead Lynn: 202-224-5398 (Murray)