Shaheen, Hassan Blast Labor Department for Hiding Evidence Showing Tip Proposal Would Steal Billions from Workers

Last week, news reports revealed the Department of Labor concealed the deeply damaging impacts of its proposed change to the tip rules

Senators: “This is a stark example of how far the Trump Administration is willing to go to appease business interests at the expense of working families”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined with a group of 23 Senate Democrats to send a letter to Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, criticizing the Department of Labor’s decision to hide evidence showing its proposed change to the tip rules would result in employers stealing potentially billions of dollars from their workers.

“We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that the Department of Labor (DOL) concealed evidence from the public showing that DOL’s proposed tip rule would result in employees losing billions of dollars in tips,” wrote the senators. “DOL is forcing through a regulation that would take money out of the pockets of low-wage workers and, even worse, it covered up the potentially catastrophic impacts from workers and advocates. This is a stark example of how far the Trump Administration is willing to go to appease business interests at the expense of working families.”

In December 2017, the Trump Administration proposed rescinding Obama Administration rules that ban employers from taking workers’ tips, potentially allowing employers to keep these tips. The DOL reportedly withheld an official economic analysis from the public record that indicated that the Trump Administration’s plan would drastically cut American workers’ wages.

In addition to Senators Shaheen and Hassan, the letter was signed by Senators Murray (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY), Feinstein (D-CA), Wyden (D-OR), Durbin (D-IL), Reed (D-RI), Sanders (I-VT), Cardin (D-MD), Brown (D-OH), Merkley (D-OR), Gillibrand (D-NY), Blumenthal (D-CT), Baldwin (D-WI), Murphy (D-CT), Hirono (D-HI), Kaine (D-VA), Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Booker (D-NJ), Van Hollen (D-MD), Duckworth (D-IL) and Smith (D-MN).

A PDF of the letter can be found HERE.