Waffle House, the iconic Southern diner chain known for its waffles and late-night service, is set to increase its base pay for workers following concerted efforts from employees and labor organizers. As WABE reports, the Georgia-based restaurant company announced via a video message from CEO Joe Rogers III that the hourly base pay is slated to climb from its current rate to $3 starting in June, eventually reaching $5.25 by June 2026.
According to Rogers, the pay raise will differ regionally and will be financed through a bump in menu prices. Additionally, the company is promising tenure bonuses and extra wages for shifts worked during later hours. Despite these forthcoming changes, Waffle House initially declined to confirm the details when approached this Tuesday. Union pressure seems to have played a crucial role in the company's pivot, with the Union of Southern Service Workers, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, taking the lead on labor actions throughout the past year.
Strikes staged by the Union of Southern Service Workers have highlighted demands not only for heightened wages but also for around-the-clock security at restaurants and an end to mandatory meal deductions from paychecks. Currently, Waffle House deducts $3.15 per day for employee meals, a practice that is now under the scrutiny of the Department of Labor after the union's prompting.
"The raises show that the company is feeling the heat," declared Katie Giede, a Waffle House server in Atlanta who advocates for wage increases to $25 per hour, in a statement to WABE. The chain's spread includes 2,000 locations primarily in the South and Midwest, with corporate headquarters stationed in Norcross, Georgia. Emboldened by the recent pay raise announcement, Giede and fellow labor advocates show no signs of deceleration; they intend to press on with their organizing efforts to secure further gains for Waffle House employees.
