Rosen Tours Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, Announces Support for Legislative Efforts to Protect Nevada Workers From Harmful Tip Pool Rule

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03) toured the Westside Bistro at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas. Rosen spoke with students who are training to work in Southern Nevada's service industry. Following the tour, Rosen announced her co-sponsorship of the Tip Income Protection (TIP) Act of 2018. This legislation, introduced by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Katherine Clark (D-MA), is a response to a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule change that would allow employers to pool and pocket the tips of workers who are paid the full minimum wage, without requiring employers to then distribute the pooled tips to workers. The proposed rule would transfer billions of dollars from employees to businesses.

"As someone who worked as a waitress to get through college and make ends meet, I know firsthand what it's like to work hard in these types of jobs to pay the bills," said Rosen. "These Nevadans are the lifeblood of our economy in Las Vegas. Many of the Culinary Academy students I met will go on to earn tips for their work, and I strongly oppose the Trump Administration's proposed rule change that would allow employers to pool and pocket the tips of workers who are paid the full minimum wage. This DOL rule change is another cruel swipe from this Administration at hardworking families struggling to get ahead, and the TIP Act will help Nevadans working in service industry jobs protect their paychecks."

"I thank Congresswoman Rosen for touring the Culinary Academy and speaking with the many dedicated students who benefit from our exceptional training program," said Ana Puljic Director of Student Services and Instructions, of the Culinary Academy. "Having worked as a waitress herself, Congresswoman Rosen understands how hard those in the service industry work. Our students were grateful to talk to Congresswoman Rosen about their experiences."

BACKGROUND: Congresswoman Rosen grew up in a working class family and was the first in her family to graduate from college. When she came home from college during the summer, Rosen was a waitress at Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas Strip and a proud member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. When Rosen started her career as a computer programmer in Southern Nevada, she worked as a banquet waitress on the weekends to help make ends meet.

The Administration's proposed rule would roll back portions of DOL regulations that clarify that tips are the property of an employee, regardless of whether an employer takes a tip credit to pay the worker the minimum wage, or pays the tipped worker the full minimum wage. In December 2017, Congresswoman Rosen joined her colleagues to send a letter to Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta requesting DOL extend the comment period on the proposed rule change by an additional 30 days due to the lack of quantitative analysis.

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