Restaurant workers in Brookline grapple with the question of tips

Bartaco waiter Jacob Brewer feels overwhelmed by a statewide ballot initiative that could lead to a major change in the way he and his restaurant colleagues are paid.

“I talk back and forth because there is a conflict of interest,” Brewer said. “I really like this company, but I would also like to get more money.”

Question 5 is attractive to some workers like Brewer because it would gradually increase the base wage of tipped workers in Massachusetts from $6.75 to $15 per hour. Current Massachusetts law allows tipped workers to be paid less than the minimum wage, as long as the tips make up the difference.

The change would also allow for a shared tip pool between the kitchen and reception area, managed by restaurant owners.

The initiative is proposed by One Fair Wage, a national coalition headquartered in California and a local advocacy group in Massachusetts. The organization is focused on raising the minimum wage for restaurant workers across the country through strategic ballot measures. The group has managed to successfully push similar issues in places like Washington, D.C., and is working on six active campaign efforts aimed at increasing wages.

The Committee to Protect Tips, a group led by Mass Restaurants United and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, represents the opposition on the issue. The committee, which represents restaurant owners and workers across Massachusetts, is pushing for a “no” vote, relying on its research that shows 88% of tipped employees oppose a mandatory tip pool.

While the question promises an increase in base wages over the next five years, many restaurant veterans are concerned about the impact and feel it could reduce their take-home pay.

Ozzy Ahmed, general manager of the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse, has been in the restaurant industry for more than 16 years and fears the initiative could spell the demise of the small private pub where he works. Ahmed believes higher menu prices will cause some customers to tip less.

“We barely survived Covid and that means we would have to increase prices even further,” said Ahmed.

Not all restaurant employees feel this way.

Alex, who only wanted to be identified by his first name so he could speak openly, grew up in his parents' restaurant and has been working independently in the industry for five years. As a manager of a Japanese restaurant in Brookline, he echoes the arguments of proponents of the ballot question and believes “yes” is the answer.

“If we raise the minimum wage to at least $15, workers will feel more comfortable,” Alex said. “If we provide good service and customers are happy, they will continue to tip.”

Longtime bartender India, who also asked to be identified only by her first name, works at an Italian restaurant in Brookline. She always exceeds the $15 limit with tips, but said she supports the ballot question.

“I voted yes,” India said. “But I honestly feel like it won’t make much of a difference.”

Jared Colandrea, who works the takeout counter and server at Zahaftes Delicatessen, also works nights as a bouncer at another Boston-area eatery.

In his job as a bouncer, he and all of the wait staff are required by the restaurant owner to wear dissenting t-shirts provided to them by the restaurant owner during their shift.

“Restaurant owners don’t want to pay more for their employees,” Colandrea said. “Although the general consensus is that Question 5 is bad, I personally am somewhat undecided.”