Island Restaurant Owner: Vote No On Ballot Question 5

To the editor: In the last few days it’s been alarming how many people, even within the restaurant industry, are uninformed about Article 5.

On the surface Article 5 seems like a well-intentioned effort to address wage issues, brought forth from out-of-state interests from California. They want to address pay distribution between tipped and non-tipped workers, but Massachusetts is already doing it right.

If there is any gap in pay for a tipped worker who earns the minimum tipped wage of $6.75 (most tipped workers earn far above that already), and the minimum wage of $15, then the employer pays for that difference.

The article proposed would force employers to start paying the minimum wage to tipped employees, as well as give management more power to distribute tips as they see fit. Restaurants already operate on razor-thin margins, and have been hit hard by inflation, the cost of food, supplies, and even housing , which have drastically increased the cost of doing business. Passing Article 5 would not only exacerbate that, but would lead to people eating out less, tipping less, and leaving less overall tips for the employees.

In a poll by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, 90 percent of servers and bartenders opposed this change. They believe that its implementation will lead to less money in their pocket at the end of the day. There also a slew of politicians who oppose 5, including Governor Healy who was notorious for fighting for workers rights in her time as Attorney General. 

This proposal should be especially concerning to the year-round community. Most restaurants that stay open in the winter don’t make any money. They stay open to keep their staff employed and because they want to be there for the community to enjoy and celebrate their special occasions. Having to pay the server, the bartender, the busser, and the food runner, 100 percent more, would simply not be an option for some establishments. It will inevitably lead to more restaurants closing in the winter, opening later in the spring and closing earlier in the fall, making our “season” even shorter.

I urge the Nantucket Community to vote no on 5. Although it is well intentioned, it does not work for Massachusetts, and it especially does not make sense for Nantucket.

Andrea Solimeo
Chef/Owner
Ventuno, Via Mare, Pizza Gemelle, Corner Table Cafe