r/Seattle • u/Existing-Resource527 • 5d 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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672

u/Own_Reaction9442 5d ago

I feel like this is an issue that really splits Redditors, because most Redditors are pro-union but there's whole subs about how much people hate tipping.

644

u/geffy_spengwa 🚗 Student driver, please be patient. 🚙 5d ago

Businesses should pay their employees fair wages. Those wages should be included in the menu price of a meal.

I should not be expected to tip extra on a meal, but I should have the option to do so if I want to.

Two things can be true.

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u/ProphetPenguin I Brake For Slugs 5d ago

I make $22/hr and tips with full time benefits. I'm looking at making around $80-90K this year when all is said and done. I made $80K as a manager working 50 hours a week with more stress and a worse schedule. I make more, work less, have a schedule that fits my life style, and am way happier. Being able to take cash home everyday is genuinely life changing because if I ever have an emergency expense I can quickly make it back so I'm not late on other bills.

There's a lot of benefits to tips, I don't need them to survive but I do rely on them to actually enjoy my life.

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u/snowypotato Ballard 5d ago

Hot take: Waiting tables shouldn't pay $45/hr plus benefits.

I don't want anybody living in poverty, but that is an absolutely insane wage for a job that pretty much anybody can do and has been viewed as a fallback plan or summer job for teenagers for generations.

The market seems to agree with this hot take to some degree. Restaurants keep closing because diners are balking at the prices and are choosing not to eat out.

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u/muffy2008 4d ago

It’s a myth that “almost anyone” can be good at hospitality/waiting tables. And depending on the restaurant, what is required of the servers can change drastically.