PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A new proposition on voters' ballots could change how tipped workers are paid in Arizona.

Currently, if a tipped worker makes enough in tips to meet or exceed what they would make in the minimum wage, the business could pay them $3 less per hour. The current minimum wage is $14.35 an hour.

However, under Proposition 138, instead of paying workers $3 less, there would be a percentage cut, meaning businesses could pay workers 25% below the minimum wage as long as the employee makes at least $2 over the minimum wage with tips for all hours worked.

“Instead of having the current law, which is a three dollar delta between the minimum wage and a tipped workers cash wage, we are going to convert that to a percentage, so as the minimum wage grows, so does the tipped wage,” said Steve Chucri, President and CEO of Arizona Restaurant Association, one of the groups backing Prop 138.

He says it will ensure restaurant costs are kept low for the consumer.

“We can’t always turn to menu item price increases; we have to stay affordable for our guests,” said Chucri.

However, those against Prop 138 say it will cut wages for workers and harm their quality of life.

“We’re just normal people looking for money that belongs to us,” said Fran Alvarado. “Why is it that we’re trying to repel the progress we made so far?”

Some say that Prop 138 will allow corporations to raise profits by avoiding paying people enough to be comfortable.

“We in our generation have seen our wages go from dirt cheap to all the way to almost double that in the last ten years,” said Alvarado. “I don’t think we should move backward. I think we should move forward.”

Ultimately, the decision is up to the voter. For more information on election resources, click/tap here.

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