Fired A Week After I Pulled Myself Out Of A Tip Pool (server)

So, I have been working at this place for almost a year. When I got hired they explained that they pool tips but not to worry because we can change that at any time legally and we usually make $200-$250 each.

Ok sounds pretty great right? Wrong. Fast forward to this month. I’m fed up with the tip pool, I feel like I am working harder and pulling in way more tips than others and just don’t think it’s fair to share tips with everyone because out of 18 people in the tip pool, only 9 are servers. I’m only walking away with $100 on a good day and have never made $200-$250. They had us pooling with servers, window/counter, and “leads”.

It all seems sketchy, I’m not making enough money and know I could make more on my own. So, I exercise my right of being able to change the tip situation at any time like they advised me upon hiring and I ask to be removed from the tip pool. I’m instantly making almost double.

One week later and they pull me into the office to tell me that it’s just not working out and make up some story about how I’m negative and slander their business etc. None of which is true. Do I have a case against them? I want to file a complaint to the DOL about the tip situation. I fought tooth and nail to get my own tips and then I got fired for doing so. Seems like retaliation to me..

I’m in Minnesota btw, and to me it seems like our laws prohibit even making me participate in a tip share.