Maine’s new minimum wage is already costing us

These last two weeks, during my visit to a small market/redemption center for a quart of milk, and in conversation with a waitress in a chain restaurant, Maine’s minimum wage was front-and-center.

I’d visited the old market/redemption center before, usually for last-minute bread or milk. Pete, the store owner, is always cordial and a talker. Two Fridays ago, again in need of milk, I walked into the market, jingling the bells hanging from the inside door knob, and greeted Pete.

A large red sign out front with white block letters reads: ”FOR SALE OR LEASE.” Inside, I could see Pete was moving shelves, display racks — I assumed in preparation for an imminent sale. Last year Pete built a brand new addition to his store, almost doubling its size. He also opened a redemption center in the market basement.

“When are you moving?” I asked. Shrugging his shoulders, Pete said, ”Whenever someone gives me a good price.” He’s also rearranging the floor space of his new addition. Only rows of tall, green plastic bag-lined, brown cardboard boxes look like they’re where they’re supposed to be.

“I had to let my helper go,” Pete said, “And I’m moving the redemption center up here. I’m too old to keep walking up and down the stairs,” he said. “Why’d you let your help go?” I asked. “Can’t afford to pay him $9 an hour,” Pete answered.

He could tell by my facial expression I’m not sure what he’s talking about. “Maine’s minimum wage changed to $9 an hour this year,” Pete said.”Oh yeah,” I remembered. “That was a referendum question. What were you paying your helper?”

“$7.50 an hour,” Pete said. That was Maine’s minimum wage until this year. He tells me Maine redeems about 96 percent of bottles/cans sold in-state at around 400 redemption centers statewide. But now, with “the handwriting on the wall,” with Maine’s minimum hourly wage rising to $12 in three years, Pete’s getting out while he can.

He said others are following suit. “They know they’re not going to be able to stay in business,” he said.

Earlier this week, Marlene and I stopped at a chain restaurant serving tasty steaks and salads for under $10. Our 20-something waitress greeted us. “Hi. Would you two care to start with something to drink?” The waitress did not — mercifully — greet us with, “Hi. Would you guys like to start with something to drink?” That’s how most waiters, male and female, address us lately. “Are you guys ready to order?” “Would you guys like dessert?” Get the picture?

Marlene and I weren’t sure if this restaurant chain still had a waiter tip sharing policy, so we asked. Our waitress said, yes. Her wage rate is $7 an hour. She shares 30 percent of her tips with the busboys, dishwashers, bartenders.

“How has Maine’s minimum wage increase affected you?” Marlene asked. “I’m making less money now,” said our waitress. “People think I make more money now, so more customers are leaving 10-percent tips, instead of 20-percent tips.

“Last weekend I should’ve made $200,” our waitress said. “But I made $140. Waitresses here get printouts showing each customer sales slip — including their tips. And I could see most of my tips were 10 percent.”

After sharing that story with Marlene’s daughter, who is a waitress at a rural family owned restaurant, she said of Maine’s minimum wage, “What will ultimately affect tips is the increase in prices. Eventually, tipping will become obsolete, and the gratuity will be built into the bill.”

Scott K. Fish has served as a communications staffer for Maine Senate and House Republican caucuses, and was communications director for Senate President Kevin Raye. He founded and edited AsMaineGoes.com and served as director of communications/public relations for Maine’s Department of Corrections until 2015. He is now using his communications skills to serve clients in the private sector.