Jehlen, Colleagues Host Briefing on Tipped Workers’ Wages

On Tuesday, June 23, Senator Patricia Jehlen, Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Boston (ROC Boston) hosted a briefing at the State House about eliminating the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers that drew almost 100 attendees.

The legislators filed S.982/H.1702, An Act Relative to the Tipped Minimum Wage, which would slowly increase the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers in Massachusetts until it reaches parity with the minimum wage. Restaurant workers, restaurant owners, and advocates all came together to discuss many of the problems that tipped workers face such as poverty, inequality, and sexual harassment.

“The median income of tipped workers is $13,500 and the median hourly wage including tips is $8.65,” said Rep. Farley-Bouvier. “We have thousands of workers in Massachusetts’ restaurant industry who can’t afford to put food on their own tables for themselves and their families because they are living off tips. This is not acceptable. We must increase their minimum wage to help lift them out of poverty.”

“In passing One Fair Wage, Massachusetts has the opportunity to produce an economic stimulus of over $1 billion per year, by protecting and ensuring a fair wage for all workers,” said Maddie Conway, Research & Policy Organizer, ROC Boston. “It’s a common sense effort that works for all. And since 66% of our tipped workers are women, this would not only be a step towards a living wage for all workers, but a step towards pay equity for all women. We applaud Sen. Jehlen and Rep. Farley-Bouvier for taking the lead on this issue.”

The briefing was catered by The Just Crust in Cambridge, a “high road” employer, who opened their doors in 2013 after workers from The Upper Crust Pizzeria filed a wage theft lawsuit against their employer. The workers’ attorney, Shannon Liss-Riordan, and her husband purchased the Harvard Square location and opened it as The Just Crust, providing a living wage, sick time, and benefits to their workers.

“In seven other states, restaurant employers are required to pay the full minimum wage to all employees, including tipped employees. The restaurant industry is thriving in those states, which include California. There is no reason that restaurant employers in Massachusetts cannot provide their workers the full minimum wage that is guaranteed to all other employees,” said Shannon Liss-Riordan, a labor and employment rights lawyer in Boston and founder of The Just Crust.

“Many tipped workers are working mothers struggling to support their families,” said Sen. Jehlen. “It’s hard for many people – let alone families – to break even when their financial security depends on getting good shifts and making good tips. It’s time to get rid of the tipped minimum wage.”

The owners of Bread and Salt Hospitality, Josh Lewin and Katrina Jazayeri, are veterans of the restaurant industry and are in the process of opening their new restaurant, Juliet, in Somerville’s Union Square. They discussed the importance of all Massachusetts businesses providing tipped workers with one fair wage and how ultimately it would benefit both employees and employers.

“As we build our business, staff compensation and career development is at the top of every conversation we have. We are serious about good jobs and a solid future both for our staff and our company, and there are a number of long standing customs in this industry that we believe are roadblocks to success in those areas,” said Lewin. “The sub minimum wage for tipped workers is a perfect example. We don’t have all the answers here, but we are looking forward to being at the forefront of the conversation.”

The bill will be heard before the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in the coming months.

– Submitted by Sen. Jehlen’s office