Ballot Question Five Doesn't Pass

Question five on the Massachusetts ballot this year proved to be one of the most contested, with money from both sides of the coin coming out to vye for voters to join each side. The measure proposed that restaurants would begin the process of raising tipped wages to state minimum wage over the next five years. It also incorporated language that allowed for tip pools if wanted and paying out tips to back-of-house staff.

Polls done prior to election day had restaurant workers and opponents of the ballot measure concerned, with one poll from University of Massachusetts Amherst finding that 61% of people were planning on voting yes on the question, and 27% choosing no. Polling and discussions sounded like the measure was decided before election day, but the Massachusetts Restaurant Association was

able to claim one of the most decisive wins.

Voting station outside of Government Center

One of the first decisions to be announced for Massachusetts residents on election night was this measure, which managed to receive 64% of voters disapproval.

Brigid McCue, a 26-year-old waitress at the Beantown Pub and full-time student at UMass Boston, shared how grateful she was to see that the bill hadn’t passed. 

“I’m so thankful that question five didn’t pass. I was worried about having to find a new job because of how it would change the pay system. As a service industry worker, I just want to take home the tips I earned. Boston is expensive as is, so I didn’t see any reason to mess with employee’s pay,” said McCue. 

McCue is not the only restaurant industry worker who is relieved to hear the outcome of the ballot though. Megan King, the bartender manager at Beantown Pub, has worked as a bartender for nearly a decade now. 

For King, it’s not just about getting to keep all of her earned tips. 

“For me, when question 5 didn’t pass, I felt like I could breathe again. For a minute there, my future was unclear. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to afford my life or continue my education without the tips that I currently am making and am able to keep. But now, things are staying the same and I’m happy for our fellow bar staff, as well as small business owners that this won’t be our new reality,” said King. 

With so much anxiety leading up to the outcome of the election, many service workers are feeling relief heavily. On the other hand, the strongest advocate, One Fair Wage, has not given up just yet.

When asked about the next steps after losing the ballot, One Fair Wage has vowed to continue on its mission of instating minimum wage for all tipped employees through “legislative action and/or future ballot measures,” according to the Boston Herald.