What to do?

So here's the story:

I've been working at China Doll, it's a local privately owned Chinese resturant and I've been there for eight months. I do everything except cook. They put me on minimum wage (which I assumed was starting wage) and it's at $7.55 plus I get to run deliveries and make extra money while still being paid an hour wage on top of whatever I make from the delivery. Generally, people are supposed to have reviews every so often, and I have yet to have one. I recently got a call back from Boston Pizza where I used to work and they want to rehire me at $8.50.

Here's the kicker -- I was asking the dishwasher (a good friend) what he thought and how much he was making and he told me he was making $8.00 starting. So.. basically, I've been there for eight months and still working minimum wage and the dishwasher (who I help out if he's not busy and not because I have to) who's been there for less than two months is making more than me. I asked around to confirm this and everyone told me that starting wage was in fact $8.00/hr.

Now I just feel lied to, but I'm going to speak with the owner Terry later today. I'm sure there might have been a mistake, but for some reason, I don't think I'm going to ever see that $0.45 for every hour I have already worked in the past eight months... but it would be a reasonable request to be paid for that, wouldn't it? I have to ask him about getting my wage up to $8.00 like everyone else, than I have to ask him for a raise for being there longer than most people have, and then I have to ask him if I can get my money for working "under paid" for eight months. He's really intimidating, so you can see how reluctant I am to asking him for all these request, but you guys do think it's reasonable to be paid fairly as anyone else at my work? I'm just afraid that he might be able to start anybody off at anything since it is privately owned, so then I have no luck there.. but still.. a dishwasher that's been there for two months is making more than me.. and employees from McDonald's get reviews every three or six months... damn.

I'm going to go check with the labour board and see what they have to think, but for now, do you guys think this is unfair or does the owner have me where I can't do anything about it? I'm going today to talk to my boss, she's ALWAYS telling me and others how much of a hard worker I am, which confuses me more because she hasn't done anything about anything yet. I like the place, and everyone there is my friend. I don't want to quit, but if I have to...

Moderators - I don't find it stressful, so I didn't put it in the stress release. I'm just looking for opinions, but if I have this in the wrong forum, do as you please.

I'm not trying to be a dick but this might come across like I am, but here goes.

You and your employer came to an agreement when you started working there, the agreement was obviously for $7.55 an hour, you and he both knew this when you started and you both agreed to it. Now if you want more money from now on then highlight your achievements and press him for more, but do not expect him to pay you more for work that you have already done at the wage you had previously agreed to.
As for others making more money, that is probably because they asked for more to start with, I doubt your boss volunteered to pay anyone more then he could get away with. Then again if you make deliveries and receive tips he could have considered that when he negotiated your wage, as he considered the dishwasher who does not receive tips.
I would suggest that if you like the place stay and negotiate for more money. Believe me it is not worth going to a job you don't like for less then $20 a week after taxes (and that’s if you work full time).
I hope that helps.

if you do have a job lined up at Boston Pizza then talking to your current boss couldn't hurt right? if he says he can't pay you anymore and you want more, take the pizza job. Talk to the boss and tell him that you may go to another restaraunt because they are offering to pay your more. see if he will match it or somethin. don't be too scared by him, it seems like you have another job lined up incase you get the boot (which i hope you don't)

^^^ Very sound advice (gdalton)... I agree completely. But yeah, do use the other offer to your advantage like hightek says.

I echo gdalton's views on this. I don't want to be harsh but it appears that you want some sort of equity in pay rate but unfortunately, the world does not have a warm spot for equity. It could possibly be that the dishwasher negotiated the pay he/she receives and the others. If the minimum wage is where you're at, then it is perfectly legal for him to give you that rate as you accepted such at the outset of your employment. Prior work experience might fall into play here as well.

I'm not here to criticize you. On the contrary, I applaud you for at least doing something about it but unfortunately, it is highly probable that all that effort would prove unfruitful. It never hurts to try.

cap

There was never an a agreement on anything.. this is the first job the dishwasher has ever had and my boss is fully aware of this. Also, tips in deliveries are nowhere near as good as servers, who get paid $8.50+ and score usually no less than $5 a table, meaning they can walk out with more than $80 on any given night. Like I said, there was no agreement, nothing was signed, BUT they told me I'd be starting on the starting wage which I assumed was $7.55, but it is not. See the problem? Also for eight months, most people get a review within that time, true or not true?

Anywho, I went and spoke with my boss and apparently it was supposed to be hush hush and I wasn't supposed to know so.. uh... it was quite awkward. They're discussing it and I will know later...

I'm sorry if I didn't give super duper high details, but you should get the gist of it. I do realise the owner is a business man, and I've already considered everyone's share of responsibilities within the store and the approx. amount their making, and compared to mine, it's not fair. That's all I'm getting at. A server who used to do basically what I do, except to a much lesser extent, started off as $8.00. I'm the only one there who started on minimum wage and has been working for this long without any raise of any sort. This is actually the first place of employment for many people here, but it certainly isn't mine, get my driiiiift? I know it is perfectly legal to put me on min. wage, but that's not what I'm getting at.

Again, there was agreement, except for the fact that they told me that I'd be working at the starting wage, which I thought I have been, but it wasn't. I hope that was clear enough.

If the job's cool, just tell your current boss you have an offer for $8.50 an hour, and see if he'll match it. If he won't, or you don't like the job, move on.