SEEKONK, Mass. (WLNE) — The Old Grist Mill Tavern has been a staple in Seekonk for centuries, but owner Karl Pelletier said a ballot question Massachusetts voters will decide on in November could bring an end to the restaurant’s reign. “I think if this passes, the Grist Mill may have 24 months,” he said. “I think a lot of other restaurants will be very similar.” Question 5 proposes a change to the way workers in the service industry would be paid, which would start by raising the minimum wage for tipped employees and spreading tip money evenly amongst all workers. “I think that the organization that put this bill on the ballot really worked to word it in a certain way that makes people think it’s a great thing,” Pelletier said. “If you’ve never served in a restaurant or bartended you might not know the dynamics of the industry and how working hard for that tip really makes you feel and gives you the drive to do your job everyday,” he added. Amanda Smithers has spent most of her life in the service industry and said this referendum would have massive ramifications. “This would be a life changing decision for me and my family,” she said. “I’ve been in the industry my whole life, and I would have to seriously consider a career change.” The majority of servers and bartenders at the restaurant said most customers have little to no knowledge of what the question means. “It’s a bad thing,” manager and bartender Raymond Point said. “I’ve had customers for the last 30 years that come in here, and a lot didn’t understand what it was all about.” “I think a lot of people need to know more of what it’s about before they see the ballot,” he added. The advocacy group that got the question on the ballot, One Fair Wage, said it aims toward the need to ensure “all workers in America are paid at least the full minimum wage from their employers.” Pelletier argued that there is no need for change. “They’re dabbling where they shouldn’t in a state where they shouldn’t,” he said. “I mean we have restaurants here since the time America was founded, why are we messing up something that’s been going so well?” There is concern that Question 5 would ultimately push tipped workers out of state. “The knee-jerk reaction for me would be to look for a serving job in Rhode Island,” Smithers said. “Rhode Island is a quarter of the size of Massachusetts…how many people am I going to have to compete against?” Categories: Massachusetts, News