Waitress: Jay-Z made me work just for tips
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Wednesday, May 23rd 2007, 4:00 AM
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A waitress at Jay-Z's trendy 4-0/40 Club says the hip-hopper has been violating federal labor laws by forcing her to work for tips only.
Celeste Williams filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court yesterday on behalf of herself and other workers at the W. 25th St. hot spot, including bartenders, table clearers and waiters.
The lawsuit accuses Jay-Z and co-owner Juan Perez of "willfully failing and refusing to pay them at the legally required minimum wage for all hours worked and time and a half rates for work in excess of forty hours per workweek."
Williams' attorney, Maimon Kirschenbaum, said other club employees are reluctant to file similar claims because they fear retaliation.
"That certainly is not true," said club spokesman Ron Berkowitz. "Everyone makes the minimum wage at the club, 100%."
