[NYCVirago]

Silvia Vides, 43, who earns $11 an hour in a union job as a housekeeper at the Universal City Sheraton hotel in Los Angeles, said, "Sometimes I don’t know how I pay the bills and food and rent." She has cut back on all nonessential expenditures and she is four months behind on payments on $4,000 in credit-card debt.

$11 per hour to be a maid is pretty good, particularly when you factor in the tax-free tips.

[Dark Knight]

Did you noticed that the illegal workforce as a tool for low end job wage stagnation was not mentioned?

DK

[William Terrell]

Tips wouldn't be tax free. I imagine the IRS has calculated the general amount of tips, like in the case of waitresses, and assumed a gross income at that level.