Connecticut

CT lawmakers propose nixing tipped minimum wage — again

Published

10 months ago

December 6, 2023

CT lawmakers propose nixing tipped minimum wage — again

Members of the Connecticut General Assembly want to revisit a legislative proposal to eliminate the lower minimum wage assigned to hourly employees who earn tips — establishing instead a single minimum wage that would apply to all workers.

The legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee approved a similar bill, S.B. 1177, during the 2023 session, but it didn’t come up for a vote in either chamber. In a press conference Tuesday, committee co-chair Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said she intends for the ‘One Fair Wage’ proposal to be on the table again in 2024.

Kushner said when the legislature agreed to raise Connecticut’s minimum wage in 2019 — via incremental annual increases and now pegged to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics index — “we left some people behind.”

Connecticut’s minimums for tipped workers remain where they’ve been since 2017: $6.38 for wait staff and $8.23 for bartenders. Tips are expected to bring those wages up to at least the full minimum wage, and in cases where they don’t, employers are required by law to pay the difference — known as a tip credit.

“That’s why we have a Department of Labor and wage inspectors, and that’s how you resolve this. We already have laws in place that get them to minimum wage right now,” said State Rep. Tim Ackert, a Coventry Republican and ranking member on the Labor Committee.

But Kushner and other advocates said restaurant workers are often reluctant to raise the issue — let alone seek legal recourse.

“What we don’t do in other industries is allow employers to pay less than the minimum wage, and that’s where we really run into trouble here,” Kushner said. “If we guarantee one fair wage, then we are actually lifting the bottom, we’re closing that crack, and we’re making it possible for people to have a more stable existence.”

Representatives from the restaurant industry argued that servers prefer the tipped-wage model as it is. A recent survey of servers and bartenders conducted by the Connecticut Restaurant Association found the average hourly wages for these positions, including tips, came out to more than twice the statewide minimum wage.

In an emailed statement, Scott Dolch, president of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said, “If passed, this legislation would completely change how servers in Connecticut are paid, putting at risk a system that currently benefits thousands of servers, small business restaurant owners, and Connecticut’s local economy.” Dolch went on to say if restaurants paid servers the full minimum wage, that could discourage patrons from tipping. “It would also give an inherent advantage to large national chains, harming Connecticut small businesses and resulting in less local choice for Connecticut consumers.”

Ackert pointed out that the tipped minimum wage helps keep prices down for consumers. “The reason why we have a tipped wage in the state of Connecticut is really the cost of going out to dinner, going out to a bar, to get a meal,” Ackert said. “That reduces the overall cost that an employer or a restaurant has to charge.”

Still, Ackert said, he’s open to eliminating the state’s tipped minimum wage, incrementally over a few years, as long as restaurant owners and employees are included in the conversation and agree that it would work for them.

“I don’t see why not,” he said.

The “One Fair Wage” movement is gaining momentum nationally. Lawmakers in at least half a dozen states are considering legislation similar to Connecticut’s proposal, and several other states could see the issue come before voters on the 2024 ballot. Seven states already require most or all employers to pay tipped workers the full minimum wage.

Advocates for eliminating the tipped minimum wage often point to the historical origins of the system.

“The subminimum wage for tipped workers was a direct legacy of slavery,” Saru Jayaraman, president of the national One Fair Wage campaign, said at the press conference Tuesday. “It was created after Emancipation to allow restaurants to hire newly freed Black people — Black women in particular — not pay them, and force them to live entirely on this new idea … called tips.”

Jayaraman is now testifying before state legislatures around the country to end the system for good. And she’ll likely be back in Connecticut during next year’s legislative season, when Kushner, Ackert and the rest of the Labor Committee hear testimony for the second time on the proposal.

The 2024 session convenes on Feb. 7, 2024.

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Connecticut

DiJonai Carrington’s a casual killer in skintight WNBA Playoff fit

Published

4 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

DiJonai Carrington’s a casual killer in skintight WNBA Playoff fit

The WNBA’s Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington helped lead the Connecticut Sun past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the opening round of the postseason. Now, DiJonai and the Sun face a step up in competition when they take on Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.

On Sunday, September 29, the WNBA Playoffs semifinals got underway at the Target Center and Nai showed up for business.

Throughout the season, DiJonai has pulled off some of the most stellar fits in the W, and Game 1 was no different as she kept it casual but still brought a killer look.

MORE: DiJonai Carrington brings the heat in fire all-red WNBA Playoff fit

DiJonai roccked a two-piece, skintight yoga set and completed the look with a Louis V bag.

DIJONAI CARRINGTON 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/gAYKhF7L7P
— kiks 🏀 (@jaecanadas) September 29, 2024

You love to see it.

Casual, confident, and coming to handle business.

MORE: Did WNBA power couple DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith get engaged?

DiJonai Carrington, WNBA, Connecticut Sun

DiJonai Carrington/Instagram

Carrington has put together an incredible season for the Sun and has established herself as one of the best perimeter-defending guards in the league. She averaged 12.7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game during the regular season.

The Sun and Lynx will be competing in a best-of-five series to see who will advance to the WNBA Finals where they will face the winner of the other semifinal series between the New York Liberty and back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces, which is a rematch of last year’s finals.

— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —

Grand finale: Cameron Brink wows in strapless minidress, suede boots in final fit

You fancy: Caleb Williams’ new $12.9 million baller mansion in ritzy Chicago suburb

Hot duo: Gabby Thomas, ‘Hot Ones’ Sean Evans pose for ‘spicy’ photo at Athlos NYC

Uh oh: DiJonai Carrington calls for Indiana Fever to ‘free’ girlfriend NaLyssa Smith

Golden girl: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had the biggest flex at Cowboys game

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Connecticut

One person hospitalized after a head-on crash in Plymouth

Published

14 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

One person hospitalized after a head-on crash in Plymouth

A two-car head-on collision with one person entrapped happened on South Street in Plymouth, Connecticut, Saturday evening.

Terryville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a car crash around 9:23 p.m. with a person trapped inside, according to the fire department.

Crews had to remove the roof of the vehicle to safely remove the person from the car. The person was taken to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unclear at this time.

The roadway was closed for a few hours and reopened around 11:30 p.m.

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Connecticut

Top 10 Connecticut high school football rankings (9/28/2024)

Published

21 hours ago

September 29, 2024

Press Room

Top 10 Connecticut high school football rankings (9/28/2024)

Preseason high school football games kicked off a couple weeks ago throughout the state of Connecticut starting the week of Sep. 12. The Connecticut regular season kicked off this past weekend with a full slate of games.

The No. 1 team in the Constitution State is the Brunswick School followed by newbie Choate Rosemary Hall School and then Masuk, which upset previous No. 3 New Canaan.

Here’s the complete breakdown of Connecticut’s elite high school football teams, heading into Week 4 of the 2024 season, as we see it.

A private school that’s loaded with talent across the board is Brunswick School, with Clemson commitment Blake Hebert running the show offensively. He’s got Notre Dame commit Matty Augustine on one side and Syracuse commit Jaylen Pray on the other. The Bruins soundly defeated Deerfield Academy 38-13 in Week 3 action.

Another private school that’s loaded with talent across the board is Choate Rosemary Hall School. The Wild Boars picked up win No. 2 last week, 49-14, over Kent School. Connecticut’s top player per 247Sports resides at Choate Rosemary in 4-star offensive lineman Will Black, who is committed to Notre Dame. A Nov. 2nd date with Avon Old Farms looks to be a highly anticipated meeting.

Killingly senior Terrence Allen makes the tackle against Masuk’s Gavin Walker during the CIAC Class MM semifinal Sunday at Morgan Field.

Allen / Jimmy Zanor/The Bulletin / USA TODAY NETWORK

We had to do it, folks. The Masuk Panthers enter as the top public schools in the state after they pulled off the upset victory over New Canaan last week. It’s been a great season for Steve Christy in making his return after a year away from the sidelines.

The Beavers opened up the season with a loss, but bounced back with a Week 2 victory over Kent School, 42-6. In Week 3, AOF defeated Loomis Chaffee School 28-7. They feature one of the state’s most overall talented programs. Avon Old Farms has 3-star offensive tackle Owen Aliciene (Penn State commitment) and 3-star defensive lineman Dante Recker (Maryland commitment) highlighting a talented roster.

We really like the balance offensive attack led by dual-threat quarterback Michael D’angelo right now. The signal caller has made plenty of plays with his arm and legs, accounting for 641 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. Greenwich just knocked off Bishop Hendricksen, the No. 1 team in Rhode Island, this past week.

Killingly senior Soren Rief is surrounded New Canaan defenders during the Class L quarterfinals Tuesday at Dunning Field. / Jimmy Zanor/NorwichBulletin / USA TODAY NETWORK

We debated on how far the Rams would drop after having their 14-game winning streak snapped in a 14-0 loss to Masuk. Answer was just a few spots because this is still a really good team despite dropping a game.

No Caleb Smith anymore? No problem for this Wreckers’ offense that’s proven to be pretty dang good regardless of who’s running it. Nick Weil is at the controls and the junior has thrown for 593 yards and nine touchdowns, most importantly zero picks. Weil helped navigate Staples to a narrow 28-21 victory over Maloney last week.

Entering the rankings chat in the state is the Windsor Warriors as No. 8 after defeating Darien in a shootout, 41-35. Leading the Windsor offense this season has been the play of running back John Manning, who has rushed for 605 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

After needing one of their best efforts to upend North Haven in Week 1, its was much smoother sailing for the Cadets in Week 2 against Westhill, cruising 44-0. Week 3 was another easy win for St. Joseph, defeating Bloomfield 38-0.

The Tigers handily took care of business against Fairfield Prep in Week 2, rolling by the Jesuits 34-3. Hand made its debut last week into the rankings because of the shellacking of Fairfield Prep and this past Friday handily defeated Berlin, 44-14.

Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.

SBLIVE SPORTS LAUNCHES HIGH SCHOOL ON SI

High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.

To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveconn

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