The Board of Directors of the North Shore Chamber has voted to take the following positions on three upcoming ballot questions, each which will have significant impact on business and the workforce:
Recommendation: Vote Yes
The state auditor should audit the state Legislature. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Not in Massachusetts, where taxpayers have no idea what goes on behind the closed doors of Beacon Hill. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio ran for office on a pledge to audit the Massachusetts Legislature, but House and Senate leadership have blocked her every effort, arguing they can be trusted to audit themselves. The North Shore Chamber supports DiZoglio’s attempts to bring transparency and openness to this notoriously secretive Legislative body. We urge a “yes” vote on Ballot Question 1.
Question 2 – Eliminate the MCAS Test
Recommendation: Vote No
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the powerful labor union, wants to abolish the MCAS test — the tool most responsible for ensuring our state’s future workforce is superbly educated. The North Shore Chamber Board urges a “no” vote on Question 2. We believe we must keep in place the basic standards that ensure high school graduates have achieved educational proficiency in math, science and English and are ready for future success.
Question 5 – Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
Recommendation: Vote No
Currently, tipped workers in Massachusetts earn $6.75 per hour. And, if their tips at the end of their shift don’t total the $15 minimum wage, the restaurant owner must pay the difference. Ballot Question 5, however, asks voters to change that system, making $15 the starting wage for these workers — who would still be eligible for tips. It’s a terrible proposal, backed by a national movement called “One Fair Wage,” based in New York. This ballot question would cripple restaurants, which would undoubtedly pass the increased payroll costs to their customers, or even go out of business altogether. The North Shore Chamber Board urges a “no” vote on Question 5.