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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The <?xml:namespace prefix = st1
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> House of
Representatives passed legislation today that will be ineffective in raising the
minimum wage.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">First, it specifies that
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>’s
minimum wage will conform to and track with the federal minimum wage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates
this anyway.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Secondly, their legislation
freezes the amount a restaurant owner must pay tipped employees at $3.35.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Currently, <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> code allows owners
to pay an hourly salary that is 65% of the minimum wage, with the idea that tips
will make up the difference.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If
this Republican-sponsored bill moves forward, even if the minimum wage
increases, the basic salary for tipped employees is frozen at $3.35.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If tips don’t make up the difference
between that amount and the minimum wage, the employer is supposed to do so.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Undoubtedly, District 6
restaurant owners are fair to their employees, and I know many of those
employees make more than minimum wage after tips.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But around the state, I hear from
employees who are not as fortunate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If an employee does not make minimum wage after tips and the employer
does not make up the difference, the employee must take up the issue
with the employer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If there is no
resolution of the dispute, then an action may be filed with the state.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Last year, only six tipped
employees filed complaints.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
could be an indication that there has not been a great problem.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It could also be an indication that some
employees are too intimidated to challenge their employers to this extent.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Apparently this is going to be
our best effort this year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s
disappointing.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>