Ocasio-Cortez goes back behind the bar in support of service workers
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez returned to her roots slinging drinks in New York City on Friday — serving up cocktails in Queens in support of raising wages for service workers.
The Democratic socialist poured the libations at the Queensboro bar in Jackson Heights as she pushes for a $15 minimum wage for bartenders and waiters who also receive tips
“I was nervous that I may have lost my touch – still got it!” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted following the appearance. “That muscle memory doesn’t quit.”
Before her unlikely run to take the 14th congressional district in New York, Ocasio-Cortez served drinks for a living at a popular Mexican restaurant near Union Square.
Patrons at the Queensboro praised the pol for returning to her roots and getting them tasty beverages.
“She made a margarita, very well-shaken, and it looked really great,” said James McIntyre, of Jackson Heights, who attended the event.
“She poured the guy next to me a vodka cranberry.”
Ocasio-Cortez is supporting the One Fair Wage campaign, which seeks to make New York the 8th state to require all employees to make at least the $15 an hour minimum wage, not including tips.
“As a person who actually worked for tips & hourly wages in my life, instead of having to learn about it 2nd-hand, I can tell you that most people want to be paid enough to live,” Ocasio Cortez said in a statement.
On the federal level, the campaign is part of the Raise the Wage Act which would require all employees nationally to make $15 an hour plus tips. Under current law, employees in nail salons and restaurants who receive tips are not required to get paid minimum wage from their employers.
The One Fair Wage campaign claims that service workers are primarily people of color, women, and immigrants. Nail salon workers, for instance, made a medium hourly wage of $10.19 including tips.
But her proposal isn’t without opposition in the restaurant business. A survey of tipped employees from industry publication Upserve found that 97% prefer this current payment system of a base wage plus tips.
Respondents said that the increase in minimum wage would lead to higher menu prices and negatively impact their tips.
Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at Jackson Heights haunt may have added insult to injury for Joe Crowley, Ocasio-Cortez’s democratic primary opponent in her upset win to ultimately take the congressional seat.
Crowley had intended to hold a victory party at the location on the night of the primary vote, but ultimately conceded. The congressman even graciously sang Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” for the political newcomer.
Crowley could not be reached for comment on Friday.