Mass. restaurant group objects to signatures gathered for tipped wages ballot question

The ballot effort to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers faces a new challenge as opponents seek to disqualify signatures collected by organizers.

The Massachusetts Restaurant Association filed an objection to several signatures and petition sheets submitted to the secretary of state by the ballot campaign group, One Fair Wage. The signatures were the final hurdle for ballot organizers to get the issue in front of voters in November.

The ballot question would ask voters to gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers to the same rate as the general minimum wage, which is $15 an hour under state law. Employers can pay tipped workers less than half of that — just $6.75 — as long as the combination of wages and tips totals at least $15 an hour. Otherwise, employers have to make up the difference.

In its petition, the restaurant group claimed numerous signatures gathered in support of the ballot measure were "fraudulently obtained," signed by people who were not registered voters or had other irregularities.

"Our biggest objection is a lot of the signatures look like they've been signed by the same person," said Jessica Muradian, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association's director of governmental affairs. "So we want to make sure that we do our due diligence and make sure that what is being presented to the voters of the commonwealth is truly what they've signed to see."

Secretary of State Bill Galvin's office said it certified 12,565 signatures for the tipped worker ballot campaign, which is just 136 more signatures than the 12,429 minimum required by July 3. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association would need to successfully object to at least 137 signatures to prevent the question from being on the ballot, according to Galvin's office.

Ballot organizers said the restaurant association's objection is just another attempt to stop the public from voting on tipped wages — and potentially passing the measure. The restaurant group previously challenged the ballot measure in court, which was unsuccessful.

"They're honestly desperate, reaching for straws and that's what this is," said Saru Jayaraman, the co-founder and president of One Fair Wage. "We're going to be on the ballot in November. I don't think there's any question about that."

Four other ballot questions have been officially approved for the November ballot, while the tipped worker question is challenged.

The state ballot law commission will hold a hearing to consider the objection to the tipped worker ballot measure "on or after July 17," according to Galvin's office. The restaurant association will have to specify which signatures and pages it objects to by the time the hearing is held. Ballot organizers will take part in the proceedings and can also pursue the matter in court if necessary, but they cannot file any additional signatures, Galvin's office said.