Bipartisan group comes together to protect servers, bartenders and neighborhood restaurants put as risk by ill-conceived ballot question
Boston, MA – The Committee to Protect Tips released the first round of Mayors endorsing a No on 5 vote on this November’s ballot. This bipartisan group of Mayors represent every corner of Massachusetts, thousands of neighborhood restaurants, servers, bartenders and other tipped employees.
“The more Mayors learn about the impacts Question 5 will have on their communities, the more they join NO on 5,” said Chris Keohan, spokesperson for the Committee to Protect Tips. “When mayors walk into a restaurant in their community, servers and bartenders are letting them know directly that there is overwhelming opposition among the staff, management and owners of neighborhood restaurants across the state. The reason is simple…this will lower tipped employee take home pay, skyrocket costs to restaurants and dramatically increase prices to patrons resulting in fewer jobs and closured businesses.”
Endorsing Mayors include: (Alphabetical by last name)
Melinda Barrett – Haverhill
Gary Christensen – Malden
Christian Dumais – Marlborough
Robert Hedlund – Weymouth
Patrick Keefe – Revere
Nicole LaChapelle – Easthampton
Michael Nicholson – Gardner
Neil Perry – Methuen
Joe Petty - Worcester
Sean Reardon – Newburyport
Charlie Sisitsky - Framingham
Robert Sullivan – Brockton
“The restaurant industry is a cornerstone of our local economy, providing jobs and generating tax revenue. This ballot question would disrupt the system that currently works for servers, bartenders, and business owners who have said time and time again that they want to keep it the way it is. Vote No on 5 for the future of Haverhill and communities across the Commonwealth.” – Melinda Barrett, Haverhill
“This out-of-state ballot initiative is an approach that does not work for Massachusetts. Our tipping system has proven to be successful, and the majority of tipped employees prefer it. To ensure our local businesses can continue to prosper, vote NO in November.” – Gary Christensen, Malden
“Marlborough alone has over 100 restaurants and other businesses whose employees rely on tipped wages. The current system of tipped wages works well for both employees and businesses. Changing that system would have devastating consequences for employees and small, family-owned restaurants specifically. I urge Marlborough residents and voters across the state to vote NO on question 5.” – J. Christian Dumais, Marlborough
“Question 5 will force restaurants to raise prices and our servers and waitstaff will earn less. We need to help our tipped employees and restaurants, not make things harder, while making it even more expensive for everyone else.” – Robert Hedlund, Weymouth
“The advocates of this ballot initiative fail to consider the real-world impacts on tipped workers and the businesses that employ them. If passed, Question 5 will hurt the very people it claims to help.” – Patrick Keefe, Revere
“This proposed legislation would have devastating consequences for our local businesses and the very workers it claims to help. A NO vote on Ballot Question 5 is a vote to protect jobs and preserve our local economy.” – Nicole LaChapelle, Easthampton
“The Commonwealth was built on small, local businesses. The passing of this ballot question will create irreversible economic damages within each and every community in Massachusetts.” – Neil Perry, Methuen
"I'm supporting the overwhelming majority of servers and bartenders who oppose Question 5 because it will reduce their wages while forcing many restaurants to raise prices. Higher prices and lower wages while we are still struggling with inflation is not what we need in Massachusetts." – Joe Petty, Worcester
“Nobody knows the Massachusetts tipping system better than the bartenders, servers, and owners themselves. I worked in restaurants for over 30 years, and it was an occupation that kept my family in our home and food on our table. This could cripple restaurants in the Commonwealth, and particularly my City of Newburyport. To prevent excess, unnecessary financial burdens, it is of utmost importance to vote NO this November.” – Sean Reardon, Newburyport
“The restaurant industry in Massachusetts is already facing numerous challenges, and this ballot initiative would only add to its burdens. It’s critical that we protect these businesses and the jobs they provide by voting NO on Question 5.” – Robert Sullivan, Brockton
About Committee to Protect Tips:
The Committee to Protect Tips is a coalition of tipped employees, service industry professionals, and advocates dedicated to protecting the rights and earnings of tipped workers. They aim to provide insight into the true impact of policy changes on the livelihoods of these workers and strive towards fair and beneficial wage practices across the industry.
For more information about the campaign, please visit www.protecttips.org.
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