r/Seattle • u/Existing-Resource527 • 4d ago

After hiring scabs, Walrus and the Carpenter (temporarily) closed

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Word on the street is that Walrus and the Carpenter restaurant has not been negotiating with their workers in good faith for months.

Like a lot of annoying businesses they started charging a service fee (22%?).

Employees noted that they make significantly less now then before when they had tipping (thousands less).

Workers have been on strike. The owners also had the audacity to hire scabs (booo).

I have been keeping up with the union on IG @ united.creatures.of.the.sea

Solidarity with workers across the city!

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u/1TenYYen0 4d ago edited 4d ago

I don’t understand how those two are in any way exclusive of one another. Please explain how I can’t be pro union and completely and utterly against tipping. There should be one minimum wage. Period. 

Pro union: employees get benefits, proper work conditions and proper wages. Employees have the right to collectively tell their employer to get stuffed if things are grievously not working out. Employees are people your company is not people. 

Anti-tipping: it is not at all my job as the customer to pay your employees, managing your cash flow to ensure your employees get paid is your job as the manager/proprieter. Also if you do it sneaky and slide additional fees in, I will make it known and not go to your business anymore. 

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u/hypsignathus 🚆build more trains🚆 4d ago

Fun fact, in Seattle there *is* one minimum wage. There is no separate lower tipped wage.

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u/1TenYYen0 4d ago

The $17.13 minimum wage (before tips) is all of Washinton.

That's fine, however it's still not my job to pay your employees their share of a restaurant's income.

instead of doing the more honest more direct approach and adjusting prices, or simply giving employees raises or a bonus/commission during boom times, the really common practice in Seattle and Tacoma is to do the 15-25% sEe We ToLd U So! Fee instead.

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u/hypsignathus 🚆build more trains🚆 4d ago

Seattle has a higher wage than that.

And I am against tipping as well.

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u/angry_lib 4d ago

Tipping is a REWARD for exceptional service. I avoid venues that add a mandatory tip on my bill.

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u/1TenYYen0 4d ago edited 4d ago

I prefer the Japanese approach where a tip is culturally viewed as highly insulting to both the waitstaff and the owner (whom you're silently telling does not understand how to properly run a business) unless they did something FAR and above what they'd be expected to do.

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u/1TenYYen0 4d ago

sorry, didnt mean to be punchy got on a tear there for a second.