FRAMINGHAM - As the general election on Tuesday, November 5 creeps closer, Massachusetts voters will be choosing whether or not they’d like to see a raise to the minimum wage for tipped workers.

If approved, Question 5 on the 2024 ballot would raise the minimum wage for tipped workers up from its current mark of $6.75 an hour. Employers would have five years to bring that compensation up to the general minimum wage, which is $15 an hour in Massachusetts. Current state law mandates that the minimum wage for tipped workers plus those tips must at least match $15 per hour. If Question 5 passes, employers could administer a pool of tips; that money from customers could be collected and distributed among all employees, including non-tipped workers.

The national group One Fair Wage—which aims to end the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees across the country—pushed to get the question on the ballot in Massachusetts this November.

Grace McGovern, One Fair Wage’s worker organizer in Massachusetts and an advocate for the “Yes” vote, believes thatraising the minimum wage for tipped workers is fair for all parties involved.

“It’s fair for the workers who are currently being paid a sub-minimum wage…It’s fair to consumers who, right now, are being used as a subsidy for labor costs…And lastly, it’s fair to employers that already pay a full minimum wage to their workers,” McGovern said in an interview with The Frame.

“It’ll even the playing field for a lot of small businesses that are already doing the right thing.”

Those in favor of Question 5’s proposal contend that the current wage system in place is unsustainable for many workers within the service and hospitality industry. With bumps to that tipped minimum wage, proponents such as McGovern believe that a larger safety net would be given to those employees.

However, those vouching for a “No” vote on Question 5—such as spokesperson and general consultant for the Committee to Protect Tips Chris Keohan—believe that this motion could harm the earning power for tipped workers while also possibly leading to higher costs for consumers.

In his interview with The Frame, Keohan said “No” voters fear tips being controlled by management as opposed to servers, bartenders, and other employees working for those funds.

“We’re opposed for one big reason: servers and bartenders don’t want this,” Keohan said.

“When we first got hired, we talked to servers and bartenders; we did a poll of servers and bartenders and other tipped employees. It came back at 91% wanting to keep things the way it is. They like being able to work for their tips, they like the opportunity to be able to earn far more than the minimum wage, and they don’t want to be considered minimum wage workers.”

McGovern disagreed with that point, as she and “Yes” voters believe that tipped workers would be able to make more money as a whole if Question 5 were to be approved.

“If you look at the change we’re proposing, it’s pretty ridiculous to say that you’re not going to make more money,” McGovern continued.

“There may be a few career bartenders who (this current) system really, really works for, but ultimately: this ballot question is not about them. People who are working in high, high foot traffic or high, high dollar value restaurants or bars, and are consistently getting the good shifts, and are consistently making anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars in tips a night: they’re still going to make good money.”

“Yes” supporters also point to factors such as sexual harassment in the workplace and wage theft as reasoning behind their call for an increased minimum wage. Keohan condemned any instances of those transgressions that employees may face while reiterating his belief that tipped workers can earn more with the current law in place.

“People that are in the industry that are living it day-to-day here in Massachusetts are overwhelming saying, ‘I make significantly more than minimum wage,’” Keohan told The Frame.

“What will happen when someone understands: ‘Alright, well you’re already making $15, I don’t have to tip you anymore.’”

The Frame’s full interviews with both McGovern and Keohan can be found at the top of this article.

More information on One Fair Wage’s platform can be found here, while additional details on the Committee to Protect Tips can be found here.