Servers, bartenders, and restaurant owners in Michigan have been sounding the alarm over a scheduled increase in the minimum wage that would all but eliminate tips.

Most restaurant workers currently make more hourly pay than what the gradual wage increase would eventually reach.

State Representative Nate Shannon of Sterling Heights is sponsoring a bill that would scale back the increase for tipped-workers.

“The Restaurant and Lodging Association, they polled their members and the members came back saying that likely one in five restaurants will close,” Shannon said. “Then also I’m thinking about the consumer, especially when we’re dealing with inflation. What’s going to end up happening is the cost of the food items that these restaurants and bars serve, those are going to go up. It’s going to squeeze the consumer.”

Shannon says the bill has vast bipartisan support in the Michigan House and could pass during the ensuing lame duck session. The minimum wage increases begin at the start of 2025.