Interesting. In all the bars/restaurants I've worked in, dishwashers were paid the same amount as cooks.
Maybe just a local thing. I've never experienced that. Can't complain either, cooking is a more skilled job and way more stressful. Edit: to complain about everyone back of house getting paid to little. Regardless of position getting paid 9-10 an hour on a Saturday and catching shit from people making at least 5 more an hour on average for being in a good enough mood to tolerate the occasional asshole customer is frustrating as hell. I've been serving and bartending for the past 2 years too. A fake smile does deserve that much of a wage difference. Bartending I'll accept only because it's part baby sitting and requires knowledge of recipes.