Massachusetts Rejects Raising Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

Voters in Massachusetts have rejected a ballot measure that would have raised the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15 an hour.

The measure was defeated by a margin of 53% to 47%.

The ballot measure, Question 2, would have raised the minimum wage for tipped workers from $5.55 an hour to $15 an hour. The measure was supported by labor unions and some Democratic lawmakers, who argued that tipped workers deserved to earn a living wage.

Opponents of the measure, including the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, argued that raising the minimum wage for tipped workers would have hurt businesses and led to job losses. They also argued that tipped workers already earn more than $15 an hour when tips are included.

The defeat of Question 2 is a setback for efforts to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. In recent years, several states have passed laws raising the minimum wage for tipped workers, including California, New York, and Oregon.

The Massachusetts vote is a reminder that raising the minimum wage for tipped workers is a controversial issue. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue, and it is likely to remain a contentious issue in the years to come.