Service employees' wages still frozen at $2.13

It was 1991.

Helmet hair was in fashion. The band Poison sold millions of albums - most of which were probably on vinyl. 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' and 'Dallas' dominated TV airwaves.

Yes, 1991. It was also the last time the minimum wage for service employees who receive tips went up.

It isn't widely reported, but the minimum wage for waiters and many others has now been frozen at $2.13 an hour for 18 years. These workers are not included in the minimum wage increase that just took effect - and haven't been included since 1991.

Nationwide, only 7 states guarantee these workers the same wages as everyone else.

And these are some of the hardest jobs. So if anyone should be making tons of money, it's service workers.

Meanwhile, bank executives who run their businesses into the ground use taxpayer dollars to award themselves bonuses worth millions.

(Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE56N48E20090724)