Lawsuit alleges Aramark violated state tipping laws

Banquet workers employed by Aramark Corp. at the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority's two Boston facilities filed a lawsuit today alleging both entities have violated the state's tipping law by adding a 20-percent service charge to patrons' bills yet not distributing those payments to the waitstaff.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan (right) in Suffolk County Superior Court, could cover hundreds of workers if it receives the requested class-action certification.

Aramark spokeswoman Kristine Grow said she could not comment because the company had not seen the lawsuit yet.

James E. Rooney, the MCCA's executive director, said he had not seen the lawsuit either but the authority doesn't have anything to do with patrons' food service bills, which are issued by Aramark. He also said the unionized banquet workers earn higher wage rates -- ranging from $16 per hour to $40 per hour -- rather than the minimum wage typically paid to food-service workers who do collect tips.

The banquet workers are among the more than 300 food-service workers at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center and the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, who have been at odds with Aramark over the union contract that expired last October.
(By Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff. File photo: David L. Ryan, Globe staff.)