Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Walks in the Shoes of Restaurant Workers in "Server for an Hour" Event, Calls for an End to New Jersey’s Subminimum Wage for Tipped Workers

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS HERE

Montclair, NJ — Today, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop joined One Fair Wage’s Server for an Hour event at La Gastronomie De Chef Abby at Saveur Creole in Montclair, NJ, where he donned an apron and worked alongside restaurant staff to highlight the need to eliminate New Jersey’s subminimum wage for tipped workers.

New Jersey’s tipped wage of just $5.26 per hour makes restaurant workers among the lowest-paid in the state, forcing many—particularly women and workers of color—to rely on unpredictable earnings and endure high rates of wage theft and harassment. The event, which brought together restaurant workers, fair wage advocates, and local business owners, focused on how eliminating the two-tier wage system benefits not only workers but also strengthens businesses and the local economy.

Mayor Fulop expressed his strong support for ensuring restaurant workers earn a full, stable minimum wage with tips on top, not instead of a paycheck. He joins a growing coalition of leaders across the country who are advocating for wage policies that ensure economic stability for tipped workers.

"Restaurant workers are the backbone of our communities, yet they continue to be among the lowest-paid workers in the country," said Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage. "Mayor Fulop’s leadership in standing with workers and committing to ending New Jersey’s subminimum wage is exactly the kind of action we need from policymakers. Ensuring fair wages isn’t just about economic justice—it’s also about strengthening the restaurant industry and local economies across the state."

In cities and states that have passed One Fair Wage laws—ensuring tipped workers receive the full minimum wage with tips on top—restaurant job growth has outpaced the national average, worker retention has improved, and consumer spending has increased.

Following his time serving guests, Mayor Fulop joined One Fair Wage, restaurant workers, and local business owners for a discussion on the impact of the subminimum wage and the need for New Jersey to follow in the footsteps of other states that have led on this issue.