Bill > S982

This bill amends existing Massachusetts General Laws concerning the tipped minimum wage by gradually increasing the minimum cash wage employers must pay tipped employees, from $4.50 per hour starting January 1, 2018, to $6.00 on January 1, 2019, $8.75 on January 1, 2020, $10.50 on January 1, 2021, and then tying it to the general minimum wage set by Section 1 of Chapter 151 of the General Laws starting January 1, 2022. The bill also defines a "bona fide collective bargaining agreement" as an agreement with a labor organization certified by the National Labor Relations Board or recognized under the National Labor Relations Act or the Railway Labor Act, and clarifies that these new cash wage requirements do not apply to tipped employees in the hotel and restaurant industry, including hotel restaurants, if they are covered by such a bona fide collective bargaining agreement, provided the employer informs the employee of these provisions and the employee retains all their tips, with the exception of tip pooling among employees who regularly receive tips.