CNBNews

Today, March 18, at noon,  Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop will join One Fair Wage for a Server for an Hour event at La Gastronomie De Chef Abby at Saveur Creole  131 Groave Street, Montclair, NJ, where he will don an apron and walk in the shoes of a restaurant worker to advocate for fair wages and an end to the subminimum wage for tipped workers in New Jersey.

New Jersey’s tipped wage of just $5.26 per hour makes restaurant workers among the lowest-paid workers in the state, forcing many, particularly women and workers of color, to live in economic precarity. The two-tier wage system, a relic of slavery, leaves tipped workers vulnerable to wage theft, unpredictable earnings, and high rates of harassment. Across the country, states and cities that have moved to a One Fair Wage model—ensuring workers receive a full minimum wage with tips on top—have seen stronger job growth, higher worker retention, and increased consumer spending.

In a show of solidarity, Mayor Fulop has expressed his commitment to modernizing New Jersey’s wage laws and ensuring that restaurant workers are paid fairly. He joins a growing number of leaders across the country who recognize that eliminating the subminimum wage is not only good for workers, but also strengthens businesses and boosts the local economy.

Mayor Fulop will serve lunch to attendees and participate in a discussion alongside One Fair Wage, restaurant workers, fair wage advocates and restaurant owners to discuss how one fair wage creates a stronger, more sustainable industry for everyone—workers, businesses, and consumers alike. A free lunch will be provided for attendees.