Under current Arizona law, employers can pay tipped workers $3 less than the minimum wage. If the proposed constitutional amendment were in effect today, businesses would be able to pay workers $3.58 less than the current minimum wage of $14.35.

Since the minimum wage is indexed to inflation, it increases every January. This means the constitutional amendment will increase the amount companies can avoid paying their workers each year.

Proposition 138 was originally designed to counter a ballot initiative backed by worker advocates that would sharply increase the minimum wage and repeal existing laws that allow restaurants and bars to pay most tipped workers less than minimum wage. However, this initiative was removed from the vote after the restaurant owners. Signatures successfully challenged supporters have applied to participate in the November elections.

Although it would reduce the amount tipped workers receive from their wages, The Arizona Restaurant Association, which drafted the measure and led the campaign to support it.He called the measure the “Wage Workers Protection Act.” The restaurant trade group was supported by one person artificial turf campaign It’s led by conservative groups, similar to what’s happening in other states trying to raise the minimum wage.

Proponents of the measure pointed to Washington, D.C., as an example of how a change in the minimum wage could affect restaurants. In 2022, the District passed a measure guaranteeing a minimum wage for tipped workers. The region saw: artificial turf campaign He was opposed to the change, led by a conservative group that passed columns and quotes mostly from local anchors to mainstream media outlets.

Astroturfing refers to a practice in which a campaign appears to be a grassroots effort but is actually organized or led by a public relations firm or well-connected political player.

The local campaign also used the same name as the D.C. campaign, “Save Our Tips.”

Similar tactics emerged in the Proposition 138 campaign. Republic of Arizona in September published a column By a local presenter promoting Proposition 138. But what is not explained is that the author also be present at the committee meeting Earlier this year, he wore a “Save Our Clues” T-shirt and wrote a statement urging voters to support Proposition 138. Arizona Secretary of State promotional brochure This was paid for by Save Our Tips AZ.

He works in a restaurant managed by. Upward ProjectsDonating to ARA and similar organizations.