Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has thrown her support behind Question 5 in Massachusetts, which would raise the state’s tipped minimum wage to match the standard minimum wage by 2029 and eventually allow pooling of tips among restaurant workers.
The former secretary of state and first lady said that women stand to benefit the most from the proposal.
“I had a short experience living on tips when I was a law school student, but there are people in Massachusetts who have lived on tips for decades,” Clinton said of the question being pushed by One Fair Wage. “Tipped workers are mostly women, and they’re working hard, not only to make a living, but to overcome, sadly, the harassment and economic barriers that stand in their way.”
“Women have a lot on the line in this election,” Clinton added, while making a pitch for Kamala Harris’s presidential candidacy. “So please, stand with working women, stand with Vice President Harris, and all service workers.”
The proposed measure, which has sparked a debate across the state, would gradually raise the current tipped wage of $6.75 an hour until it matches the standard minimum wage of $15 an hour. Currently, if a tipped worker’s total pay plus tips does not reach the state’s minimum wage, employers are required to make up the difference.
Opponents, such as the Massachusetts Republican Party, contend that the change would increase costs for restaurants and hurt workers by eliminating their ability to earn higher incomes through tips.
Here is the MassGOP’s position on the issue:
The MassGOP strongly opposes Ballot Question 5, concerning the minimum wage for tipped workers. If enacted, this initiative would have detrimental effects on the entire restaurant industry, impacting not only the establishments but also the servers, bartenders, and patrons throughout Massachusetts. By eliminating the tipped minimum wage, the initiative would compel restaurants to pay the full minimum wage to tipped workers, significantly increasing their operating costs. This change threatens the viability of restaurants and the livelihoods of those who work in this vital sector of our economy.
Servers and bartenders already earn significantly more than the minimum wage, choosing this profession because they can make in a weekend what someone in a standard 9-to-5 job earns in a week. A survey conducted among waitstaff and bartenders revealed that 86% of respondents believe the current tipping system works for them. Additionally, 90% of those surveyed feel that eliminating tipped wages would result in lower earnings for tipped employees. Furthermore, 80% oppose a mandatory tip pool that would share tips with the kitchen and other non-service staff. An overwhelming 91% expressed a preference for the existing system, which allows for a lower base wage while providing the opportunity to earn more through tips.
Mom-and-pop dining establishments, still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, will be among the hardest hit. Introducing this additional burden will force many small restaurants to close their doors. Other establishments will have no choice but to raise their prices, ultimately leading to a more expensive dining experience for consumers.
Question 5 is set to go to Massachusetts voters in the general election on Tuesday, November 5.