The disappearing 20% TIP! (3700 votes for tip integrity) [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Cool campaign going on in San Antonio where we've been doing a "mock election" in efforts to show the City Council that a referendum like this has community support.

http://www.unitehere.org/detail.php?ID=3644

Basically, the way things in hospitality work in San Antonio is that most hotels (I think almost all) and banquet centers etc.. will tack on a 20% service fee to any large party or banquet etc... What most people assume is that the 20% is a gratuity that goes to the workers. But in San Antonio - it isn't. It goes to the hotel. The workers don't see a dime of it. So what often times will happen is that because people assume its a gratuity they then won't tip the workers AND the workers don't get anything out of the 20%.

Enter the Mi Tia campaign. If it was your aunt working hard every day - would you tip her? I'd like to think so....

Additional press coverage:


Union pushes 'Tip Integrity Act' for local hotel workers
UNITE HERE, downtown service workers fighting 'tip theft'
Volunteers talk to people in downtown to gain support for the initiative Mi TIA
A volunteer carries a ballot box to gather support for the initiative Mi TIA
Volunteers talked with workers in the service industry as well as customers about supporting an ordinance which would keep tips and surcharges in the pockets of the service worker