Massachusetts lawmakers are now considering legislation that would phase out the state tipped minimum wage and mandate one uniform minimum wage by 2028. Under the legislation filed by Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier (Pittsfield), the current tipped worker wage of $5.55 (and slated to rise to $6.75 by 2023) would be phased out as the tipped wage is increased by $1.50 per hour per year from 2022 through 2028 at which time it would align with the state minimum of $15 per hour, an increase of more than 170%. Should the minimum be raised further in the meantime, the tipped wage would also increase by such additional amount as necessary to align with the minimum in 2028. The legislation, which died in the House last session after being approved by Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, would mandate a $15 minimum for tipped workers regardless of any additional income they may receive through tips. It is again before the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. Similarly, New York is putting the tip credit in its crosshairs as state comptroller Tom DiNapoli (beginning at the 6:20 mark) endorsed the anti-tip crusade of One Fair Wage President Saru Jayaraman, a co-founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Center. DiNapoli, whose responsibility it is to secure and safeguard the retirement benefits of 1.1 million New York workers and retirees, announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund – of which he is trustee – “will urge public companies” to end use of the tip credit by investing in companies that do so. He went on to urge new Governor Hochul to use her executive power to eliminate the tip credit.