Boston Globe TD Garden concession workers contemplate strike

[jgatie]

Bartenders don't serve drinks that people walk out of the establishment with that is a liquor store. Sit down service is different.

Why shouldn't the people at Market Basket get a tip as well? Put the 10/15/20 options on every transaction there.

Jacobs probably spends under $1 for the beers he charges $19 for.

In certain parts of the country, Key West, New Orleans, Las Vegas; bartenders most certainly can serve drinks that people can walk out of the establishment with. They even give you a plastic cup to pour it into. And yeah, I tip that bartender too, because I'm not a miserly cheapskate.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

Here’s the problem. By not tipping, you’re not moving the owner any closer to paying a living wage to his or her employees. You’re just shorting the worker.

I don’t know why it can’t just be factored in to people’s psyche when they receive service. You have a direct line to the front line employee in terms of their compensation. Like it or not, until further notice, that’s the system. So unless you’re out there fighting for raised wages for all these service people busting their humps for a poverty level base pay, accept that it’s part of the deal and have a tiny bit of generosity and/or basic humanity to help a brother or sister out.

No, I’m not saying you should be clicking 30% tip when you get a 6 beers for $120. But a few bucks scattered around to the various workers throughout the Garden? For Christ sake, if that’s all it takes for me to contribute in a tiny way to a positive environment jammed into a building with thousands of other people, I’m doing it. I hardly enjoy seeing people miserable.

And that's where I'm at hitting the lowest button or doing a custom 10 percent tip or a dollar or two at those checkout prompts.

Sit down 15-20%.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

And that's where I'm at hitting the lowest button or doing a custom 10 percent tip or a dollar or two at those checkout prompts.

Sit down 15-20%.

Everyone doing “something”, whether it be a buck or more, would have a massive impact for all of those people.

I’m not going to argue that tipping server percentages on beers at price gouging levels is appropriate. As far as I can tell, tipping servers has a pretty well standard percentage (within a few points), while serving from at a concession is more wishy washy. I’m hardly going to scrutinize anyone for a percentage given the inherently overpriced nature of what is being served. I just think it’s important to consider the reality of that sort of job, and distribute accordingly, especially considering you’ve already likely paid hundreds just to step foot inside the building.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

You don’t tip a bartender?

I tip bartenders but they dont make a full wage like the TD garden workers do.

 

[Ratty]

The term “tips” is an acronym for “To Insure Proper Service” There should be no question for compensating a waiter or waitress, for example, who must answer questions about the menu, must move back and forth between the table and the bar or kitchen, convey patrons wishes and advocate for them with workers who prepare the food and drinks.

I’ve experienced both American and European systems and come to the conclusion that both work for their constituents. I see the point for those who decline to tip a counter clerk at a convenience store for handing you a candy bar.

 

[Bridges31]

Great, now the beers are going to be $30

 

[TD Charlie]

And that's where I'm at hitting the lowest button or doing a custom 10 percent tip or a dollar or two at those checkout prompts.

Sit down 15-20%.

If everybody hit it for a buck, none of the Garden servers would complain.

I tip bartenders but they dont make a full wage like the TD garden workers do.

What if i told you there was a time that some nights i could work 8 hours and make 62 bucks before taxes?

 

[Alicat]

When I buy a coffee during the holidays, I hand a $20 thru the Drive-Thru window at Dunkin' and tell the High School kid/single mom/retiree working there to keep the change and "Merry Christmas". I love the look on their faces and a few times I've gotten a "You don't know how much this means!"

I guess I'm a narcissist.

When I worked at a coffee shop in college we had 3 ladies who would come in every morning for their sesame bagels toasted with butter and a medium light roast. They were rather demanding and not afraid to let you know how you messed up (according to them). They were notorious for tipping us maybe $.05 which drove us crazy. When Christmas rolled around each of us who worked the regular morning shift would get a card with $30 in it. I was so stunned the first time I received one and tried to give it back. The most vocal of the group told me I had earned it because I never gave them an attitude when they were apparently testing me and that I always had a smile on my face even when I burned their bagels. They are long gone and so is the cafe but 20 years later, I still remember these ladies and their generosity.

This is why we tell people to keep the change or pay for someone’s coffee especially during the holidays.

 

[Bocephus86]

So at $20/beer it's the responsibility of the customer to support the person pouring and not the business owner making a 1000% profit margin?

Below answered better than I - the owner of the business overcharging the customer isn't the workers fault. The tip is to offset the poor wages and that's the culture that has developed in this country. If you'd rather stiff the owner, don't patronize the business.

Here’s the problem. By not tipping, you’re not moving the owner any closer to paying a living wage to his or her employees. You’re just shorting the worker.

I don’t know why it can’t just be factored in to people’s psyche when they receive service. You have a direct line to the front line employee in terms of their compensation. Like it or not, until further notice, that’s the system. So unless you’re out there fighting for raised wages for all these service people busting their humps for a poverty level base pay, accept that it’s part of the deal and have a tiny bit of generosity and/or basic humanity to help a brother or sister out.

No, I’m not saying you should be clicking 30% tip when you get a 6 beers for $120. But a few bucks scattered around to the various workers throughout the Garden? For Christ sake, if that’s all it takes for me to contribute in a tiny way to a positive environment jammed into a building with thousands of other people, I’m doing it. I hardly enjoy seeing people miserable.