As a server in Portland for over 20 years I can say this concept frightens me. I've raised my son as a single mom on my income, comprised largely of tips. And that isn't to say we have lived in the lap of luxury! We've still had to get food stamps and other services at times over the years. But it's been a living, and I've worked! Very hard! to develop a skill set that earns me decent tips. Never once in this industry have I ever been given a raise unless minimum went up. Now if you tell me my tips are going to be absorbed by the owners and redistributed as they see fit, I wonder why I , or any other server worth their salt would want to do that job? Am I getting a raise to 16 dollars an hour? And the argument of cooks and other BOH staff not making enough doesn't move me either. Every job I've worked I've tipped out to support staff, who make more than I do hourly, and get raises. Plus, they don't want to work with the public! FOH earns tips by servicing customers... it's not easy!