more tax cut questions- bush speech

[McNally, David J. (LNG-MBC)]

A while back I saw a really good Humphrey Bogart / Bette Davis movie - The
Petrified Forest, from 1936.  I seem to remember that behind the bar of the
cafe in which most of the movie is set, there was a big sign saying
something like "Tipping is Un-American".  Were these signs common back then,
and when did tipping become such an accepted and unquestioned part of
American life?

Could wait staff unionise, and force an increase in wages?  

David.


> kelley wrote:
> 
> bah!  wait staff earn something like $2.50-$3.00 an hour. 
> SOME places may 
> pay the minimum wage tips are because an employer doesn't 
> want to charge 
> you what it would really cost if a waitress were paid what 
> she deserves to 
> get paid.  in other words, if they paid waitstaff minimum 
> wage or more your 
> meal would cost more.  labor costs in the industry are about 
> 28% of sales.
> 
> most waitstaff make something like $2.65 for their wage and 
> rely on tips to 
> make that up.  the employee has to make it up to minimum wage 
> if the staff 
> don't make it in tips.
>